Conflict over Nile water: Why Africa's largest dam project provides for a dispute

The construction of the largest dam in Africa through Ethiopia already provides for many years been a dispute. On Monday, representatives of the three conflict parties in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will meet again for talks under the mediation of the African Union (AU). The downstream Nile riparian countries of Sudan and Egypt fear for their water supply during the flooding of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam (GERD), especially in dry periods. Ethiopia had already indicated its opposition several times, the introduction of a legally binding dispute settlement procedure. The Egyptian water supply depends to 97 percent from the river Nile. Attempts at mediation by the African Union (AU) have so far been unsuccessful. An Overview of the most important cornerstones of the Mega-project:

The Region

With 6695 kilometres is the Nile river one of the longest rivers in the world and is a major water - and energy supplier in an often dry area. The White and the blue Nile meet in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, where the Nile through Egypt into the Mediterranean sea flows. The Ethiopian dam on the upper reaches of the Blue Nile is to take to its filling around 74 billion cubic meters.

Africa's biggest dam

Ethiopia started in 2011, about 30 kilometers from the border to the Sudan with the construction of the dam. 1.8 kilometers in length, with a 145-Meter high dam of the Grand-Ethiopian-Renaissance-dam is. The 4.2 billion Dollar (3.6 billion Euro) project is to produce after its completion, approximately 6450 megawatts year line. Thus, it would be Africa's largest hydro power plant and would double the electricity production of Ethiopia with a single blow. Currently, more than half of the 110 million people live in Ethiopia without power. The Filling of the reservoir has begun.

Egypt needs water

Egypt's almost one hundred million inhabitants are dependent on the Nile water. In the dry Land of the Nile supplies 97 percent of water for people and agriculture.

Updated Date: 03 August 2020, 09:19