Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilem received a detailed report on the ongoing third phase of rehabilitation works at the Idku (Edfeina) Barrage on the Nile’s Rosetta branch. The project is part of Egypt’s wider programmeto upgrade major hydraulic structures to improve water distribution efficiency.
Maintaining and modernising water infrastructure is a integral to the national “Water 2.0” system, ensuring fair distribution of irrigation water and timely delivery to canal ends, Minister Sweilem said.
The Idku Barrage rehabilitation is being carried out under a comprehensive technical study to guarantee operational efficiency and sustainability, he added.
The current phase includes draining and cleaning the lock basin, repairing and refurbishing lock gates and side structures, mechanical maintenance of operating systems, sealing joints, treating cracks, servicing drying boxes, and rehabilitating the metal bridge rotation system above the lock, Sweilem explained,
The minister directed strict adherence to technical standards and timelines to maximise the benefits of the works.
The Idku Barrage is a vital structure with 46 openings, each 8 metres wide, topped by a 9‑metre road, and a second‑class lock measuring 12 metres wide and 80 metres long.
Previous phases included servicing 30 upper gates, road and bridge repairs, hydraulic studies to optimise gate operations, and refurbishing additional gates, winches, diesel engines, lighting and asphalt layers.
