Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan Agree to Proceed with 6,000-Megawatt Renaissance Hydropower Dam

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--After years of claims and counterclaims between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan over the potential effect of Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance hydropower dam on the Nile River, a preliminary agreement by the three countries has been signed in Sudan.

The latest accord, signed by the three heads of state, will see the construction of the dam proceed, with assurance from Ethiopia that the water flows in Egypt and Sudan will not be affected by the project. Further details of the deal will be decided by an expert panel. Ethiopia moved to divert the water of the Blue Nile for the construction of the dam and maintained that the dam will divert the flow only slightly, and the river will flow back to its natural course downstream of the dam.

When completed, the 6,000-megawatt project will be the largest dam in Africa. It is to be located in the Benishangui-Gumuz region, about 40 kilometers (km) east of Sudan. Work began in 2011, following the awarding of a $4.7 billion engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to Salini Costruttori (Milan, Italy).

Treaties signed between 1929 and 1959 granted Egypt 87% of the Nile's water and the right to veto upstream projects. Ethiopia has been trying to have these old treaties revised, as 85% of the river's course flows through its territory.

Ethiopia Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said at the signing ceremony, "I confirm the construction of the Renaissance Dam will not cause any damage to our three states and especially to the Egyptian people."

For related information, see October 23, 2014, article - Ethiopia Handles Neighbors' Water Concerns, Launches Another 2,050 Megawatts of Hydropower.

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