Egypt Presents Detailed Nile Water Argument Amid Growing Tensions Over Ethiopian Dam

During a press conference in Cairo, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam detailed Egypt's precarious water balance, noting that its annual renewable supply of about 56.8 billion cubic metres falls far short of the 123 billion cubic metres needed. He contested the notion that Egypt enjoys a disproportionate share of the Nile, pointing out that its allocation represents roughly 2.7 percent of total basin rainfall.

Sewilam contrasted Egypt's scarcity with Ethiopia's abundant rainfall and water resources, arguing that Ethiopia's economic growth does not hinge on controlling the Blue Nile. He warned that unilateral or uncoordinated operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam could trigger sudden floods or droughts, disrupting downstream infrastructure in Egypt and Sudan. The briefing also outlined Egypt's "Water 2.0" plan, which expands water reuse, desalination, groundwater extraction and high-tech monitoring, and cited recent cooperation projects and a new $100 million financing mechanism for Nile Basin states. Finally, he reaffirmed Egypt's intent to pursue all legal avenues to protect its water and food security.