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.
Demeky Mekonin, the Ethiopian 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.
Afghanistan and India should do the same and follow the directions shown by Ethiopia. No international law could be held valid if in return of fresh water, a recipient country, in return sends terrorists and publicly proclaim that your country is their strategic depth.
Well if Afghanistan does that the Kabul river flows from Pakistan to Afghanistan and then back to Pakistan, I agree Pakistan should divert Kabul river based on your recommendation, and as for sending terrorists I agree with you as well as Afghanistan does not recognize the border it had signed with the predessor state and in the 1950s and 1960s sent terrorists, and invaded Pakistan, so what is happening now is simply what is called 'chickens coming home to roost'. On top of that Pakistan should establish 100 km buffer zone in Afghanistan from current border as 1.) Afghanistan does not accept the border, and 2,) to stop illegal cross border activities and smuggling. 3.) Settle all Afghan refugees withn that corridor….Pakistan should also tax all goods coming from Karachi Port to Afghanistan at 100% rate ….. AFGHANISTAN NEEDS PAKISTAN MORE THAN PAKISTAN NEEDS AFGHANISTAN
Well Said, Ahmed Shah Baba!! And Mr. Allah Ditta, We do want India to deny Indus Water Treaty. That way, India would no longer be able to hypocritically steal our waters. Once, they publicly refuse to give us our part, We can use other options to get access to these rivers. You know, WE ARE NOT EGYPT OR AFGHANISTAN OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
Strategic Depth? That was just the dream of a Dictator who did not represent our nation. Afghanistan is just a barren, wasteland. It neither has any culturable area nor any oil resources. It's just a big graveyard in the Middle of Asia. Pakistan is already supporting 30 million afghans for 40 years. We don't need anymore Poverty and Hunger from across the border. You can keep it in "Independent" Afghanistan!!!
And, again India needs us. We are their gateway to Central Asia and Afghanistan. So, to sum up what Ahmed said, We are the trade route for Afghanistan and India. They may hate us, BUT they simply CANNOT ignore us!
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