[mmercier]

You can't eat oil, but you can burn wheat.

[SunkenCiv]

Another online article (or maybe it was one of those quoted and linked above) had a cogent objection by someone over in the Massacreria East that new housing and industry should be built in the desert, and leave the valley for agriculture. The main problem of course is that much of the water goes straight up, and doesn't get used for anything at all. :') Best solution for that *isn't* to build another open to the sky irrigation canal (or four). :')

[SunkenCiv]

ah, here it is...

Egypt launches controversial Peace Canal project
by Gayle Young
January 9, 1997

geologist Rushdi Said... "The valley and the Delta are a godsend -- there's no better land in the world. The best plan is to move industry and housing into the desert and make the most of the valley for farming."