The High Aswan Dam (HAD) was established as a long-term storage reservoir to ensure a constant and regular inflow for both Egypt and Sudan. However, the drought period that prevailed in the region from 1979 and lasted for nine uninterrupted years has seriously affected the storage in the High Dam Lake Reservoir - a fact that motivated the country to develop various scenarios to face the probability of a recurrence of such a catastrophe.

Some of the alternatives are to consider reducing, as much as possible, rice and sugarcane cultivation; to minimize the water duties for different applications; and to generate electricity during the winter closure period.

The government is studying ways of storing fresh water, which is discharged to the sea during this period, and reusing it in agriculture. Linked to these proposals and plans are studies of the laws and regulations that govern water-use and coordination between ministries, organization, and water users.

A supreme ministerial committee for water has been constituted, headed by the minister of MWRI and including representatives from concerned agencies, to discuss water policies.