CAIRO – Egypt on Friday marked the 66th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone for the High Dam, one of the country’s largest national projects, which was inaugurated on Jan. 9, 1960, by late President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
In a statement to mark the occasion, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam described the High Dam as the greatest engineering project of the 20th century, saying it has protected Egypt from droughts and floods for decades. He said the project stands as a lasting example of the Egyptian people’s ability to build and achieve major national goals through determination and collective effort.
Sewilam said the High Dam represents a “fortress of safety” for Egyptians and is the most significant water structure in modern Egyptian history. He added that it has played a vital role over decades in regulating the flow of the Nile River, safeguarding the country from extreme hydrological events, supplying water for agriculture and industry, and generating electricity.
The minister said he closely monitors the technical readiness of the High Dam and the Aswan Reservoir, noting that rehabilitation and maintenance of the facility are key pillars of Egypt’s second-generation water management system, known as “Egyptian Water System 2.0”. He said the irrigation ministry is continuing to upgrade monitoring and surveillance systems using the latest global technologies, digital solutions and national expertise to ensure sustainable and efficient operation under varying hydrological conditions.
Sewilam stressed that ongoing development and modernization work aims to enhance the dam’s operational efficiency and preparedness, enabling it to respond effectively to different challenges and fluctuations in Nile flows, and to continue fulfilling its role as a safeguard for the country’s water security.
He said the modernization programme is being implemented in line with directives from the political leadership and with the full support of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, underscoring the state’s commitment to preserving the High Dam and maximizing its strategic role in supporting Egypt’s water security.
The minister praised the teams responsible for operating and monitoring the dam around the clock, including continuous tracking of water levels and discharge rates, expressing appreciation for their dedication and service.
Sewilam noted that Egypt will also mark in the coming days the anniversary of the official inauguration of the High Dam by late President Anwar Sadat on Jan. 15, 1971, a date that later became the national day of Aswan governorate.
He paid tribute to all those who contributed to what he described as a historic national epic, saying they succeeded in taming the rugged terrain of southern Egypt to build a structure that remains a lasting landmark in the country’s history.
The decision to build the High Dam was taken in 1953 with the formation of a committee to design the project. The final design was completed in 1954 under the supervision of engineer Moussa Arafa and Dr Hassan Zaki, with the assistance of several international firms. Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956 to secure funding for the project, signed construction agreements in 1958, and laid the foundation stone in 1960.
