The High Dam should serve to produce hydro-energy as a basis for the
industrialization of the country. Twelve turbines to be installed in lateral
outlets of the dam together with others at the old Aswan Dam were to
produce 10 billion kWh of electric energy annually. As part of the strategy
a huge industrial complex was to be created in the region of Aswan.
The gigantic project was not only of great importance for international
politics, as shown above, but also for Egyptian domestic politics during the
time of Nasser. In the course of the sixteen years of his rule, Nasser created,
through intensive propaganda for the Sadd el-Ali among his people, the vision
of a new Egypt of great agrarian productivity which would catch up with
the industrialized countries – thanks to plenty of cheap energy produced at
the High Dam.
The current picture as regards the realization of Nasser’s goals is as
follows