Ethiopia diverts flow of Blue Nile

[NGONGE]

Egypt and Sudan express concern over multi-billion dollar dam on Nile which violates colonial-era agreement.

 

 

 

Last Modified: 29 May 2013 11:33

 

 

 

Ethiopia has started to divert the flow of the Blue Nile river to construct a giant dam to meet its energy needs, according to state media, amid concerns from other Nile-dependent countries downstream.

 

Demeke Mekonnen, Ethiopia's deputy prime minister, said on Tuesday that diverting the flow at the site of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam would provide hydroelectricity not only for Ethiopia but also for neighbouring countries, reported the state-owned Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency.

 

Egypt and Sudan have objected to the construction, saying it violates a colonial-era agreement which gives Egypt nearly 70 percent of Nile River waters.

 

Ethiopia, however, says the dam will not affect Egypt and that the 1959 agreement ignores the needs of five upriver countries.

 

"This project is said to cost between $5-6bn and is expected to produce 6000 megawatts to power not only Ethiopia but also export electric power to a selection of East African countries," said Al Jazeera's Azad Essa, reporting from Addis Ababa.

 

He added that the hydroelectric project, considered the biggest on the continent, is expected to be fully funded by the Ethiopian government and not foreign donors who refuse to enter into a dispute with Egypt.

 

No alternative sources

 

Egypt says its population of 90 million is among the largest in Africa and that unlike other Nile Basin countries, it does not have readily available alternative water sources.

 

Egypt's presidency said on Tuesday that it was awaiting a report by the Tripartite Nile Basin Committee, comprised of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, to determine its next steps.

 

President Mohammed Morsi's spokesman said the move will not have a negative impact on the amount of Nile water reaching Egypt.

 

"The main issue and the essence of the matter is the impact of the dam itself and not of this step of diverting the course of water," Mohamed Edrees, the Egyptian ambassador to Ethiopia, told Al Jazeera.

 

He said that the diversion is a step in the construction of the dam, and will not affect either Egypt or Sudan in the amount of water because of an alternative by-pass route.

 

Some 84 percent of the water from the world's longest river originates in Ethiopia. The Blue Nile is one of two major tributaries of the river. The White Nile, flowing through Sudan, is the other.

 

 

Source:

 

Al Jazeera and agencies

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/05/2013528212950410935.html

[NGONGE]

Egypt pursuing win-win solution with Ethiopia: Ambassador

 

“Ethiopia has repeatedly and publicly affirmed that Egypt’s water interests will not be harmed [by the construction of the Renaissance Dam] and we are following up on this,” Mohamed Idris, Egyptian ambassador in Addis Ababa, told Ahram Online on Tuesday.

 

 

 

Idris was speaking by phone from the Ethiopian capital after Monday's announcement by Ethiopia that it would begin work on diverting the course of the Blue Nile as part of the Renaissance Dam project.

 

The dam is already under construction despite requirements under international law that all Nile Basin states must agree before such a project is undertaken.

 

The Renaissance Dam is expected to require the storage of over 70 billion cubic metres of water from the Blue Nile that provides Egypt with over 80 percent of its annual share of Nile water – with the rest coming from Uganda.

 

The construction of the dam was effectively initiated some two years ago following the signing of an agreement by most upstream Nile Basin states. Ethiopia will use the dam to generate electricity to meet its expanded development needs, with extra for exports.

 

“We are pursuing a win-win scenario in which the interests of both sides can be served and accommodated,” Idris said.

 

The possibility of only mild damage to Egypt’s interests is possible because the water to be stored behind the dam will only be used to generate electricity and not for irrigation.

 

“There are several factors that should be taken into consideration and will be decided upon by technical experts. We are expecting Ethiopian officials to make good on their promise to act in a way that will not harm Egyptian interests,” Idris said. “It is not impossible,” he added.

 

A report on the possible impact of the Renaissance Dam is expected to be published this week by a committee of representatives and experts from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.

 

Sources close to the committee say the report will reveal some concerns over the impact of the dam on Egypt and Sudan. It is also expected to reveal concerns that cracks could develop in the dam within a few years and eventually lead to serious flooding.

 

Idris said he had not read the report and was not willing to speculate on its content. “We have initiated a new phase of good relations with Ethiopia since the January 25 Revolution. There is new momentum that has seen greater bilateral trade and more Egyptian investment in Ethiopia, in addition to the expansion of cooperation,” he said.

 

“In a positive atmosphere of mutual trust and cooperation we are certainly capable of moving forward with our joint cooperation, but should the overall atmosphere take a negative turn it is unlikely that we could pursue the improvement in our mutual interests,” Idris stressed.

 

The construction of the dam is likely to be completed in around three years if Ethiopia manages to keep the funds flowing. So far Ethiopia says it is only using national funds. Cairo has made a point of reminding potential international donors that any aid should be consistent with international regulations that demand the full consent of all Nile Basin states for key Nile projects.

 

Idris is hopeful that an agreement can be reached while the dam is being constructed so both sides can manage the matter “with consideration for the development interests of both sides.”

 

He added, “We are in continuous consultation with Ethiopia and this will be upgraded to ensure the matter is given the fullest consideration and fulfills the interests of both nations."

 

Idris said the diversion of the Blue Nile is a step in the dam-construction process and the most crucial matter ahead is the pace of water storage and safety considerations.

 

“At the end of the day we cannot agree to anything that would harm our interests. I think this is clear and legitimate,” he added.

 

 

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/72617/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-pursuing-winwin-solution-with-Ethiopia-Ambas.aspx

[nuune]

I know some people who invested 500 camels in this DAM, not only will they get their investment back, but a profit share as well, each camel costs $12,00 in that neck of the metal.

[Khadafi]

Great news and one that will probably shock the Egyptians! The nile-talks and the conspiracy stories behind it have been going on and on

for more then 30 years. But now it seems that the Ethiopians have finally decided to what to do. The Egyptians in their post-mubarak politics are confused and divided. They dont see the serious threat to their livelihood when the Nile will be diverted.

 

As for us Somalis I think that we should see the positive aspects of this divertion. Why not hook up with that electric dam and clear it to Somalia though the kilil 5. Most of the Somalis electricity problems will be solved. Cheap and clean electricity!

[The Zack]

The colonial era agreement was definitely not fair! 70% for Egypt? WTF!

[Tallaabo]

Good Ethiopian resources for Ethiopia;)

[N.O.R.F]

Huge amount of respect for the way Ethiopia is doing things on the development front.

 

Ngonge, any commentary from the Cairo streets?

[NGONGE]

^^ Morsi's fans are saying it's ok. Husni's fans are blaming Morsi.

 

The thing is, with Egypt's revolution and the huge numbers of youth who got used to revolutions and riots, Egypt has a ready made army to send to Ethiopia if the situation ever gets worse. But I don't think it will. Ethiopia seems ready to play nice and keep both Sudan and Eygpt happy.

[Tallaabo]

NGONGE;956409 wrote:

^^ Morsi's fans are saying it's ok. Husni's fans are blaming Morsi.

 

The thing is, with Egypt's revolution and the huge numbers of youth who got used to revolutions and riots, Egypt has a ready made army to send to Ethiopia if the situation ever gets worse. But I don't think it will. Ethiopia seems ready to play nice and keep both Sudan and Eygpt happy.

Egyptians were just over reacting about this project. Ethiopia proved that the dam would not affect the flow of water into both Sudan and Egypt.

[Mad_Mullah]

A war between Egypt and Ethiopia will benefit the Somalis. But I don't think the UN will allow it. Btw. there's a Hadith that says that the destruction of Egypt will come by the drying up of the Nile.

 

Even if you look at it now, their economy is based on the Nile with most cities right next to it.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ I dont think there will be a war, but if it came to it Egypt can destroy Ethiopia.

[warsamaale]

very very wrong, actually egypt and ethiopia fought once and egyptians got their asses whopped, xabashidu waa balo xaga dagaalka.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ Egypt has superior air force and more modernized military arsenal trust me Egypt is not the Egypt that fought against israel in the 60s. They are well trained and ready to annihilate the Ethiopians if it came to a war. The Ethiopians are low equipped badly trained Ethiopia can only take on Eritrea it was even struggling with Eritrea. The Ethiopian way of fighting is belligerent way of fighting against all odds and dont matter how many casualties. They dont care how much man power they lose. They dont care about casualties they dont fight a strategic war the Eritreans fought a strategic war very tactical. Egyptians will do the same to and the Egyptians are much more advanced military wise.

[ElPunto]

Not sure it's good longterm for Somalis. Next they may damn the Juba and Shabelle - they already have a small dam on the latter. And unlike Egypt/Sudan - there is no agreement with Somalia.

[Chimera]

ElPunto;956500 wrote:

Not sure it's good longterm for Somalis. Next they may damn the Juba and Shabelle - they already have a small dam on the latter. And unlike Egypt/Sudan - there is no agreement with Somalia.

^The only individual here that understands what's at stake here. Its in our interest that Ethiopia's dam adventures fail, and being part of their power grid is to invite a situation similar to Russia and Eastern Europe, with regards to energy supplies, i.e dependency.