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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – For thousands of years, the Nile overflowed every summer due to heavy rains and snowmelt. This created fertile agricultural conditions along its banks. Although modern irrigation has replaced the need for annual floods, the Nile is still important for agriculture in the region. For the 11 nations along its banks, the Nile is a major source of drinking water, agriculture and, increasingly, hydroelectric power. Since 1970, the High Aswan Dam has prevented floods and regulated water flows in Egypt. Now Ethiopia is working to build its own dam along the Blue Nile.
Benefits of Ethiopia’s New Dam
Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam began in 2011 and is currently nearing completion. The Ethiopian government is spending $ 4.7 billion to build the 1,780-meter dam on the Blue Nile. As a hydroelectric project, the dam is expected to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity. It will also give Ethiopia more control over the Nile by creating a 74 billion cubic meter reservoir. This will allow the irrigation of half a million hectares of new land for agriculture.
The Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has the potential to have a profound impact on poverty in Ethiopia. Despite the rapid economic growth of the last 20 years, Ethiopia still has a per capita income of only $ 790. There is a critical shortage of energy and much of the country remains underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure.
The 6,000 megawatts of power created by the dam would more than double Ethiopia’s energy production. This would allow the government to bring electricity to tens of millions more people and at the same time export to other countries. The cheap and renewable electricity provided by the dam would have a major impact on development and poverty in the region.
Reach an agreement with Ethiopia’s neighbors
The Blue Nile originates from Ethiopia and supplies more than 80% of the Nile’s water. Despite this, Ethiopia uses much less water than its neighbors. Egypt and Sudan have historically used the vast majority of the Nile’s water. They point to agreements of 1929 and 1959 that gave them privileges on projects along the Nile, privileges that Ethiopia and other nations adjacent to the Nile have been rejecting as they seek to develop their own projects. hydroelectric plants on the river.
Egypt and Sudan initially opposed Ethiopia’s Great Renaissance Dam for fear it would make them dependent on Ethiopia for Nile water. However, now that the dam is more than 70% complete, talks have focused on the logistics of filling the dam. To fill the dam, Ethiopia needs to redirect water that would otherwise have flowed downstream. A faster fill schedule means Egypt and Sudan will feel a greater impact on their water supplies.
Ethiopia initially projected that it would take three years to fill the dam, while Egypt requested a much longer time of 10 to 15 years. Since then, the two countries have met in the middle with a delicate eight-year commitment. The main question is figuring out what to do in dry years. Egypt and Sudan are pushing for a binding agreement from the Ethiopian government to release a minimal amount of water downstream if water levels drop. However, Ethiopia is reluctant to give up flexibility on its own water policy.
How does the dam affect the region in general?
If the three nations can agree on how to work together on Nile management, it would have a positive impact on everyone in the region. Sudan could share the renewable energy generated by the dam and Sudanese agriculture would benefit from working with Ethiopia to control the flow of the river.
With proper planning, Ethiopia and Egypt can reach an agreement that ensures that the Nile replenishes the Aswan High Dam and remains a reliable source of water even in dry conditions. Cooperation around the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has enormous potential to bring renewable energy to millions of people, helping them lift themselves out of poverty and improve the overall stability of the region.
– Jack McMahon
Photo: Flickr
