a month ago
- Egypt's New Delta project aims to reclaim 9,200 sq km of desert for agriculture to relieve pressure on the Nile Delta, which sustains 95% of the population but is strained by population growth, urbanization, and water scarcity.
- The project involves complex water management: the Al Hammam canal recycles agricultural wastewater, a second system draws from the Nile, and a large treatment plant processes water for irrigation, using pumping stations and underground pipes to overcome engineering challenges.
- Satellite images show rapid progress with new circular fields, but concerns exist about sustainability, as much irrigation relies on non-renewable groundwater, and critics note the focus on export crops may not address food security or reduce reliance on wheat imports.
- Historical context includes the Aswan High Dam altering flood cycles and sediment flow, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam introducing uncertainty over Nile water flow, exacerbating Egypt's water challenges.