From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Wed Aug 26 2009 - 07:57:21 EDT
Egypt State Information Service
Irrigation Minister: Eritrea Did Not Divert any Nile Tributary Away From
Egypt
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Irrigation Minister: Eritrea Did Not Divert any Nile Tributary Away From
Egypt
Dr. Mohamed Nasreddin Allam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation,
said reports were not true on Eritrea's diversion of a River Atbara
tributary. He added that Egypt had approved last week establishing a
number of dams in Ethiopia and some Nile basin countries to cultivate
20,000 there.
He also affirmed that Egypt did not object to establishing small dams at
those countries, contrary to some allegations that Egypt was against
development in the Nile basin countries.
"Egypt has approved building the Tekeze dam in Ethiopia since 2005 when
the Ethiopian government presented detailed feasibility studies to
Egypt, which approved it for power generation. The dam will not affect
Egypt's quota of the Nile water." said Allam.
The power generation dam building projects would also benefit not only
Ethiopia but also the downstream countries; Egypt and Sudan.
"The Ministry's satellite survey of the Nile basin and the Nile basin
countries has indicated that buildings on the Nile including the small
dams will not affect Egypt's water quota." Allam said. "The largest two
buildings are: the Marwa dam of Sudan, which stores 12 billion m3 a year
within the limit of Sudan's water quota according to 1959 agreement
between Egypt and Sudan, and the Tekeze dam in Ethiopia, which stores 9
billion m3 that are used for power generation." Allam added noting that
he has reported to the political leadership in this respect.
Relationships between Egypt and Ethiopia are at the best and there is
bilateral cooperation in the water question, according to the Minister.
"Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia; the eastern Nile basin countries, are
conducting studies to carry out a number of power generation projects
and power linkage, for the good of the three countries." Allam
concluded.
http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/EgyptOnline/Economy/000011/02020000000000000100
55.htm
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