The Ethiopian government on Saturday called for transparent dialogue with the Egyptian government and public on a 6,450-megawatt hydro dam Ethiopia is constructing.
Egypt, a Nile river downstream country, has feared that the dam will cut into its water supply, potentially crippling its agricultural sector that is already struggling with water shortage.
Speaking to Xinhua, Sileshi Bekele, Ethiopian Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity (MoWIE), said there is little understanding in Egypt on the benefits of the dam Ethiopia is building on Blue Nile river.
“The hydro dam will reduce the amount of siltation and floods that severely affects hydro dams in downstream countries like Egypt and Sudan by regulating the water flow” he said.
MOWIE explains Sudan alone spends an average of 50 million US dollars annually on removing silt from its dams.
Ethiopia insists that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is part of its desire to equitably use Nile water to help power its economic growth.
The minister further said Ethiopia is building the dam with a view to harnessing energy for regional economic integration especially of Northeast Africa.
Tensions over GERD saw senior Ethiopian and Egyptian officials exchange war of words this week, prompting fears it could lead to political crisis between the two African countries.
Calm down squabbling children calm down. There is enough for everyone’s’ needs and nothing for ones’ greed.
Egyptians can always negotiate with Ethiopians about the minimum need of water for them while the Ethiopian dam fills. Even the filling rate can be negotiated. After all Rome was not built in a day. Then we all forget the rains and consequent floods that may or do come with the rains. That time no one will want so much water. Is that NOT be time to fill up the Ethiopian dam and every dam everywhere in the world?
Dear Genius .
You are indeed genius . EGYPT should stop its selfish stance towards its benefactors neibours and share the waters fairly and equitably. Filling rate of the dam’s reservoir can be negotiated
EgyptIan authorities are fulling even their own people as if the Nile is their own 100%. When crafting the so called 1959 treaty did not even called the riparian countries for negotiations of the water share. It is a day time roberry not to recognize the natural rights of the Nile water producing countries. Even Ethiopia that originates 85 % of the water has not been a located any share. What do you call this? Totally insane.
Dr. H K Hassan
Ismalabad
It’s a hydroelectric dam, not irrigation dam…Water has to keep flowing to Egypt for it to work.
Egypt needs distraction from it’s internal political chaos.
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