Nile river: Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia in a Water War?
Nile river crisis in Egypt will take a new shape if the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is completed
In the latest of the news related to the Nile river, tensions between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have risen. With talks on the distribution of water of the Nile River, Egypt is worried about Ethiopia's Nile River dam, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The project, when complete and functional, GERD will help in the overall development of Ethiopia. From generating low-cost electricity to better farming, a revolution of development will begin in Ethiopia.
Read: A brewing water war for the Nile
But what makes Egypt and Sudan worried about the project? Here's why
The Nile river originates from Lake Victoria in Uganda and Tanzania. It flows northward towards Egypt and ends in the Mediterranean Sea.
Egyptians from ancient times considered the Nile river as the country's source of water. It is the primary and the only source of water for the country and around 85% of the country's population lives near in the fertile land of the river. The Nile river crisis in Egypt dates back to the construction of Egypt's Aswan High Dam, which stores around 50 billion metres of Nile's water will have a comparatively lesser supply of water to store.
Why Egypt quit the talks on Ethiopia's Nile dam? Read
As for Sudan, one of the two major tributaries of the Nile River, the White Nile serves the country with its major water needs. From the times of the Sudanese kingdoms, the country has worshipped the Nile River and is depended on it for their daily as well as industrial needs. In a similar fashion to Egypt's Aswan Dam, Sudan's Rosaries Dam which stores around 17 billion metres of water and is Sudan's lifeline during a water shortage, will too have a lesser supply of water.
The Blue Nile begins from Lake Tana in Ethiopia and comprises over 80% of the Nile river's water. The Blue Nile flows from Lake Tana towards Sudan and meets the White Nile in Sudan's capital city, Khartoum. Ethiopia wishes to keep an eye on the waters of the Blue Nile and use its water for the country's economical as well as public needs. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, when complete will provide the country with around 6,000 megawatts of electricity annually.
What next?
On the other side, Egypt worries that GERD will serve as a hindrance to the water supply of the country. The dam will control the flow of the major water of the Nile River (the Blue Nile) and this will lead to inadequate flow of water in the country. UN has reported that if the existing water crisis continues in Egypt, the country will face severe water shortages by 2025. With Egypt's fertile land depended on the waters of the Nile, Egypt states that the dam will control the flow of the river.
How will the water in GERD be filled?
As of 2020, the GERD is around 70% ready and has started its initial operations. Citizens of Ethiopia celebrated the development. The projected is estimated to be fully operational by 2023. Authorities in Egypt have claimed that the GERD will reduce around 36% of its water supply and this will lead to water scarcity in the country.
Ethiopians celebrate the GERD in capital Addis Ababa
Nile River for Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia
From the early 2000s to 2010, various talks between Egypt and Ethiopia have held relating to the water distribution of the Nile. With no coercive result coming out from the talks, the countries are in dispute with Egypt warning Ethiopia with an armed rebellion.
With the entry of the African Union, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have come to the conclusion in favour of the building of the GERD but with reasons that Ethiopia will assist Sudan and Egypt during any water crisis. Similarly, the country will also share the total quantity of water stored in the dam annually.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thanks for visiting!
Share your thoughts and connect with me!