http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/09/04/377713/egypt-ethiopia-at-loggerheads-over-nile-dam/
Friday Sep 05, 201412:24 PM GMT
Egypt, Ethiopia at loggerheads over Nile dam
The ongoing construction of a 6000MW power dam on river Nile by Ethiopia
has been a source of contention especially from Egypt that considers the
River Nile as its lifeline.
Egypt’s concern remains that the operation of a dam by Ethiopia on the Nile
will reduce the amount of water it gets, hence threatening its livelihood.
Despite this, Ethiopia says that it will beat its deadline of finalizing
construction by 2017, with the first phase of power production expected in
2015. The foreign affairs minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry is in Ethiopia
for further talks on the Nile issue. Since 2013, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia
have been in disagreement over how to implement the recommendations an
International Panel of Experts report that was released in 2013. The report
recommended conducting two studies to assess the effects of GERD on
downstream countries Egypt and Sudan, including the environmental and
socioeconomic impacts. Following tripartite discussions on the Dam
construction, done by minister from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan, in Khartoum
it has been decided that two studies be conducted to ascertain the effects
of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) under a six-month deadline.
These are hydrological study and trans-boundary environmental and social
economic studies. Egypt’s contention against Ethiopia’s dam construction
emanates from the colonial agreements where British granted it an annual
share of 55.5bn cubic metres out of the 84bn cubic metres of Nile water
produced each year. However, the other 10 countries that share the Nile
have disputed these claims saying that colonial agreements do not hold.
Egypt has in the past rejected reports offered by Ethiopia to validate the
dam construction on River Nile. It insists that it will only accept the dam
construction after these new studies approve its existence.
Received on Fri Sep 05 2014 - 08:21:34 EDT