GREAT ASSOUAN DAM

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 116, 9 February 1929, Page 10

GREAT ASSOUAN DAM

BARRAGE TO BE RAISED GREAT INCREASE IN CAPACITY (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, February 7. The Egyptian Government has decided to proceed with the scheme for heightening the barrage of the Great Assouan Dam in Middle Egypt, and has invited Sir Murdoch Macdonald, sometime Adviser and Under-Secre-tary, identified with irrigation development in Egypt and the Sudan, to act as consulting engineer for the scheme. It is stated that the cost of heightening the dam by 23ft. will be approximately £3,800,000, and that other proposals for engineering works in Egypt, as well as enterprises in AngloEgyptian Sudan, to regulate the flow of the Blue and White Niles, are under consideration. The Assouan Dam, which was originally 120 ft. high, was completed in 1902. Owing to the growing demand for impounding more water it was raised 23 feet, this work being completed in 1912. Experts having advised that it could be further raised with perfect safety, new works have now been - decided upon. The new extension will give the reservoir a total capacity of 4,800,000,000 tons, and an immense further stimulus to cotton growing is expected.