Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt begin studying
Nile dam impact
12 January, 2012 | By Tesfa-Alem Tekle (Sudan Tribune)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethiopia proposed the establishment of the technical team to create
transparency and to guarantee Sudan and Egypt that the construction
of the dam will not negatively affect their water share downstream.
The aim is also to further create better understanding between the
countries and allow them to engage in continued cooperation serving
their interests.
The three-party committee which embraces four international
professionals and six experts drawn from the three countries has held
its first meeting in Addis Ababa and will have its second gathering in
Sudan.
Last year, Ethiopia launched the construction of a $4.8 billion dam
project on the Blue Nile River near the Sudanese border raising angry
protests from downstream countries of Sudan and Egypt that had
historically had control over most of the Nile’s water resources under
a colonial era treaty.
The Horn of Africa country is a source to over 80% of the Nile’s
water and argues that it has right to execute development projects.
Ethiopian experts say the construction of the Ethiopian Grand
Renaissance Dam will not harm Egypt and Sudan who, they say, will
benefit from the electricity it generates. The dam will also regulate the
water flow, controls over flooding that risks their dams.
President Hosni Mubarek who led former Egyptian régime before he
ousted in popular protests last year, had warned Ethiopia against
building any dams on the Blue Nile raising diplomatic tensions.
However since his down fall there is a new momentum in relationships
and cooperation between Cairo and Addis Ababa.
In October last year the Nile Basin Discourse, a civil society network
within the Nile Basin region, lauded the countries for opening a new
chapter in relations to settle their long-standing dispute over the Nile’s
water.
Courtesy
Nile dam impact
12 January, 2012 | By Tesfa-Alem Tekle (Sudan Tribune)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
- A joint tripartite
technical committee set
up by Ethiopia, Egypt
and Sudan has began
assessing the possible
impacts of the massive
hydro-power dam
project Ethiopia
intends to build in the
Blue Nile River.
Ethiopia proposed the establishment of the technical team to create
transparency and to guarantee Sudan and Egypt that the construction
of the dam will not negatively affect their water share downstream.
The aim is also to further create better understanding between the
countries and allow them to engage in continued cooperation serving
their interests.
The three-party committee which embraces four international
professionals and six experts drawn from the three countries has held
its first meeting in Addis Ababa and will have its second gathering in
Sudan.
Last year, Ethiopia launched the construction of a $4.8 billion dam
project on the Blue Nile River near the Sudanese border raising angry
protests from downstream countries of Sudan and Egypt that had
historically had control over most of the Nile’s water resources under
a colonial era treaty.
The Horn of Africa country is a source to over 80% of the Nile’s
water and argues that it has right to execute development projects.
Ethiopian experts say the construction of the Ethiopian Grand
Renaissance Dam will not harm Egypt and Sudan who, they say, will
benefit from the electricity it generates. The dam will also regulate the
water flow, controls over flooding that risks their dams.
President Hosni Mubarek who led former Egyptian régime before he
ousted in popular protests last year, had warned Ethiopia against
building any dams on the Blue Nile raising diplomatic tensions.
However since his down fall there is a new momentum in relationships
and cooperation between Cairo and Addis Ababa.
In October last year the Nile Basin Discourse, a civil society network
within the Nile Basin region, lauded the countries for opening a new
chapter in relations to settle their long-standing dispute over the Nile’s
water.
Courtesy
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Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Egypt’s
enemy or a blessing in disguise?
06 January, 2012 | Steven Viney
--------------------------------------------------------------------
But long before the completion date, the project is already generating
significant concern amongst the nine other countries that share the
Nile, especially Egypt....More
enemy or a blessing in disguise?
06 January, 2012 | Steven Viney
--------------------------------------------------------------------
- Preliminary construction of
the Grand Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam (GRD)
began in April 2011 on the
Blue Nile River near the
Sudanese border. Scheduled
for completion in 2014, it is
planned to be the biggest
hydropower dam in Africa,
But long before the completion date, the project is already generating
significant concern amongst the nine other countries that share the
Nile, especially Egypt....More
