INA - BAGHDAD

Minister of Water Resources - MOWR, Aoun Diab, confirmed on Monday that the situation of the Mosul Dam is very reassuring and there is no doubt about its safety while pointing out the ongoing work that contributes to strengthening and treating it by purely Iraqi efforts.

"Mosul Dam is considered the main source of water in Iraq, whether it is the Tigris or Euphrates rivers as well, as reliance on the Mosul Dam to transfer water to the Euphrates is through the Samarra Dam advance through the irrigation canal. The Mosul Dam and its stability is important in addition to the long debate about its foundations," said Dhiab to the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He added, "The injection operations are ongoing for the foundations under the dam and will not stop, as this injection leads to a state of increased stability and reassurance about the safety of the dam. Injecting a quantity of cement called 'mortar cement' in liquid form and with special specifications. It is a special cement found in one of the factories in Nineveh Governorate, and the quantities used are measured by injection in addition to measuring the amount of seepage from the dam."

"The positive indicator is that the amount of cement that was injected decreased from what it was previously, and the amount of seepage also decreased, as the cement that was injected took its role effectively to fill the gaps under the foundations. The process is ongoing by purely Iraqi efforts from employees and engineers who benefited from the experience of Italian companies that contributed to the treatment, and currently, the situation of the Mosul Dam is very reassuring," Dhiab explained.

Regarding the negotiations with Turkey on water and the PM's visit, Dhiab noted that "there is a special delegation from the ministry that left Iraq last Thursday headed by the technical undersecretary with a large delegation from the ministries of housing, agriculture and environment in addition to one of the advisors in the Parliament, as well as most of the relevant ministries. This came to continue communication for the other required rounds, as we directed the delegation to have practical procedures that are consistent with the memoranda of understanding signed with the Turkish side." 

"The meeting of PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani with the Turkish President has positive dimensions in addition to the political dimension, as there are technical dimensions related to implementing the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed during the Turkish President's first visit, which constituted support for our technical aspects," he stated.