Five years after ethiopia began construction of the renaissance dam on the river nile, downstream neighbors egypt and sudan worry about impact on. Grand ethiopian renaissance dam project salini impregilo. When it is completed it will generate 6000 mega watts of electricity. Located about 20 miles from the sudan border, gerd is projected to produce 6,000 megawatts of electricity for both domestic use and for exportation. Ethiopias launch of a mega dam on the blue nile river, known as the great ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, is aimed at overcoming. International experts analyze impacts of ethiopian dam mit news. Ethiopias renaissance dam is not secure or safe amanuel biedemariam the government of ethiopia is openly admitting that it is no longer able to secure the grand.
The grand ethiopian renaissance dam gets set to open. All ethiopians and ethiopian origins who are committed and determined to the growth and development of their country ethiopia, those who would like to see an electrified and industrialized ethiopia and an interconnected and stable region through the 6000 mega watt power generated from the great ethiopian renaissance dam are invited to make their bond savings by transferring following the. Being 1,800 m long, 155 m high and with a total volume of 74,000 million m3, is the largest dam in africa. An artists impression of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam. Grand ethiopian renaissance dam international rivers. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam, a 6,500megawatt hydroelectric power plant being constructed in ethiopia, has been a major point of contention between egypt and its southern neighbors, as the completion of the dam poses serious threats to egypts dwindling water supply and food security. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam, known as gerd and dubbed a main challenge for. Ethiopias renaissance dam is not secure or safe madote. The case of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam deutsches. The renaissance dam and the need to confront facts on. All this sadness and frustration however, is now giving way to determination and optimism with the laying of the cornerstone of the great ethiopian renaissance dam gerd some three years ago. Ethiopias renaissance dam is not secure or safe amanuel biedemariam the government of ethiopia is openly admitting that it is no longer able to secure the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd and as such the country. Once completed, the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd will be the largest dam in africa. The border project which is known now as the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd is a hydropower project being built recently on the blue nile abbay river to generate 6,000 mwh of electricity by exploiting the rivers flow which has an average 1,541 m3s of annual water discharge.
Ethiopias nile dam project signals its intention to become. The renaissance dam, which was previously known as the millennium dam, lies on the blue nile, known in ethiopia as abay river, about 40km east of the sudanese borderline. Ethiopia has a potential for about 45 gw of hydropower. The dam was originally called project x, and after its contract was announced it was called the millennium dam. Egypt, ethiopia and geopolitics of the renaissance dam. An agreement on the guidelines and annual operation policies of the renaissance dam, which the owners can adjust from time to time. This huge dam will flood 1,680 square kilometers of forest in northwest ethiopia, near the sudan border, and create a reservoir that is nearly twice as large as lake tana. But hard negotiations on the grand ethiopian renaissance dam are only beginning. The nile river is the main source of water for most regions of egypt, water needs is a function in.
The grand ethiopian renaissance dam and the ethiopian diaspora. Pdf benefit of grand ethiopian renaissance dam project. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam formerly known as the millennium dam and. The dam is being funded by government bonds and private donations. The project is located approximately 500 km north west of the capital addis ababa, in the region of benishangul gumaz along the blue nile. A megadam with potentially megaconsequences and written by haydar yousif, selfdescribed as a sudanese hydrologist who has worked for 35 years on water issues on the nile 1 apparently, he is eng. Grand ethiopian renaissance dam versus aswan high dam. Disputes over the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd. In an extended speech last month, president abdelfattah elsisi commented on ethiopias controversial grand renaissance dam, vowing that water treatment stations were being built to compensate for any lack of potable water during the first filling of the dam. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd is africas biggest. The dam is a declaration of the countrys determination to pull itself up by.
Oct 12, 2017 once completed, the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd will be the largest dam in africa. It will be the largest hydropower project in africa. Built along the blue nile in ethiopia, the megaproject is viewed by egyptians as a major. Managing risks of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam on. Ethiopia and egypt are fighting over the nile river. Why technical discussions are needed for the grand ethiopian. The current generation of ethiopians is staking its claim to history by displaying the determination to undertake a monumental project that many had.
This unique volume discusses various aspects of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd and the aswan high dam ahd including their positive and negative impacts. It presents uptodate research findings by egyptian scientists and researchers covering several interesting. This dam will have enormous benefits to the region and ethiopia on so many. How efficient is the grand ethiopian renaissance dam. In 2011, the ethiopian government announced its plan to construct the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd on the blue nile. The location of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, now under construction near ethiopias border with sudan, is shown in red. Studies into the dams impact may take a year to complete. To compare, ethiopia currently has the capacity to produce only 3,200 megawatts. The great ethiopian renaissance dam bond an invitation. Grand ethiopian renaissance dam project, benishangulgumuz. The ethiopian dam, which is being built on the river nile, has been a top priority for egypts diplomatic agenda since the dams. This paper examines the row between ethiopia, egypt and sudan on the gerd built on. Egypt and ethiopia have once again locked horns over the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd on the blue nile. After its completion, it will be the largest dam in africa and generate more power than any other dam on the african continent.
Effect of different scenarios of filling the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd on river nile water levels and discharges downstream of aswan high dam, report, hydraulics research institute, elqanater, elkalubi, egypt. Equally, its special importance emanates from the enormous symbolic value it holds. Feb 27, 2018 five years after ethiopia began construction of the renaissance dam on the river nile, downstream neighbors egypt and sudan worry about impact on the rivers water levels and potential harm to. The dam will flood 1,680 square kilometers of forest in northwest ethiopia an area about four times the size of cairo, displace approximately 20,000 people in ethiopia, and create a reservoir that. In fact, there are benefits for all three nile states. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam and the ethiopian diaspora by beyene, b. Grand ethiopian renaissance dam archives horn affairs. Benefit of grand ethiopian renaissance dam project gerdp. The case of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd will be evaluated to elaborate the strategies of ethiopian counterhegemony strategies that will enable ethiopia to reallocate the nile water.
The development of great ethiopian renaissance dam gerd is causing political escalation of tensions between ethiopia and egypt based on current issues and the expectations for requirements that must be met before the completion of the dam construction. Remote sensing of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam will be the biggest of its kind in africa. Arab league extreme concern over ethiopias nile dam. International experts analyze impacts of ethiopian dam. Hydropolitical contention over the renaissance dam. Located in the western part of the country, near the border with sudan, the dam was expected to be about 5,840 feet long and 475 feet read more. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd constitutes a real crisis for the egyptian regime, where ethiopia several times blamed egypt for the failure of negotiations conducted between sudan, egypt and ethiopia on. The nile river is the main source of water for most regions of egypt, water needs is. Ethiopia and egypt disagree again on the ethiopian renaissance dam. Background in 2011, ethiopia began building the grand ethiopian renaissance dam project gerdp on the blue nile river in a place called guba, 60 kilometres from sudan, which hold 74 billion. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd project is one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world.
Ahmed ibrahim ramzi ibrahim researcher, national authority for remote sensing and space sciences narss, cairo, egypt. Development of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam. The great ethiopian renaissance dam a monument by all. The leaders of ethiopia, egypt and sudan have shown some commitment to sharing the waters of the nile. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam could also lead to a permanent lowering of the water level in lake nasser if floods are stored instead in ethiopia. Revisiting hydrohegemony from a benefitsharing perspective. It and several other large dams in ethiopia could turn the country. Acknowledging the difficulty to get funding from foreign sources mainly due. The united states facilitated the preparation of an agreement on the filling and operation of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd. The renaissance dam which we are constructing by joining hands together is among the list of mega projects in africa and the world, becoming a source of our national pride, the ethiopian. Ethiopias determination to build a major new dam, the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, for hydropower purposes has been the flashpoint of current conflicts in the eastern nile basin gebreluel, 2014.
The ethiopian renaissance dam 42 percent is completed. Worries over water security for millions of people prompted the arab league yesterday to say it is following with extreme concern talks between egypt, sudan and ethiopia over the latters grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, which it is building on the blue nile. Mar 03, 2017 ethiopia has said members of a separatist rebel group were killed by its army during a failed attack on the site of africas largest hydropower project, the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd. Ethiopia began construction of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd on the blue nile river. Ethiopian renaissance dam reservoir in parallel with the construction of the dam. On 15 april 2011, the council of ministers renamed it grand ethiopian renaissance dam. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd is constructed in a mountainous area where limited information has been collected on key environmental. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd is a 6,450 mw hydropower project nearing completion on the blue nile in ethiopia, located about 30 km upstream of the border with sudan. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam and the blue nile. Full text of declaration of principles signed by egypt. Concerns mount in egypt as ethiopias renaissance dam nears. Negative impact of ethiopian renaissance dam and population. Ethiopia is building one of the largest dams in the world, the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, on the river nile near the sudan border.
Jul 14, 2014 ordinary people are building an extraordinary project, he says. Ethiopias renaissance dam and its impact on sudanese water security. The reservoir of the dam will be twice as large as lake tana. It will generate more than 5250 megawatts of power.
Gerd grand ethiopian renaissance dam will be operating. Owned and operated by the ethiopian electric power company, the 145mtall rollercompacted concrete gravity dam. Ethiopia has said members of a separatist rebel group were killed by its army during a failed attack on the site of africas largest hydropower project, the. Jan 24, 2014 ethiopia is building one of the largest dams in the world, the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, on the river nile near the sudan border. The 6,000megawatt grand ethiopian renaissance dam, shown here in may 2016, is scheduled to begin producing electricity in 2017. Apr 22, 2015 map showing the full extent of the nile with its two main branches, the white nile, which flows from lake victoria, and the larger blue nile, which originates in the highlands of ethiopia. Now and then, we see biased articles regarding the grand ethiopian renaissance dam. Back in august 2014 ethiopia, egypt and sudan agreed to do more studies on the ethiopian renaissance dam. The study uses the case of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd on the blue. To inform downstream countries, egypt and sudan, on any urgent. Impact of ethiopian renaissance dam and population on future egypt water needs dr. At the end of the works, the grand ethiopian renaissance dam will be the largest dam in africa. In fact, about 85 % of the overall nile flow originates on ethiopian territory swain, 2011. Construction of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam and its implications on egypt crisis management between egypt and ethiopia.
For instance, ethiopias decision to construct a series of dams over the gilgel gibe river and the plan for the grand ethiopian renaissance dam is a manifestation of how desperate the country is for development. Development of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam council. Ethiopia and egypt disagree again on the ethiopian. Ordinary people are building an extraordinary project, he says. Statement by the secretary of the treasury on the grand ethiopian.
The grand ethiopian renaissance dam and the ethiopian. In 2011, ethiopia began building the grand ethiopian renaissance dam project gerdp on the blue nile river in a place called guba, 60 kilometres from sudan, which hold 74 billion cubic meters bcm storage capacity and about 60 bcm live storage which will produce 6000 mw electric generation. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, formerly known as the millennium dam, is under construction in the benishangulgumuz region of ethiopia, on the blue nile river, which is located about 40km east of sudan. Jun 08, 2016 the leaders of ethiopia, egypt and sudan have shown some commitment to sharing the waters of the nile. The dam is located approximately 500 km northwest of addis ababa, in the region of benishangulgumaz, along the blue nile. Nov 27, 2017 worries over water security for millions of people prompted the arab league yesterday to say it is following with extreme concern talks between egypt, sudan and ethiopia over the latters grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, which it is building on the blue nile. Grand ethiopian renaissance dam dam project, ethiopia. This would reduce the current evaporation of more than 10 billion cubic meters per year, but it would also reduce the ability of the aswan high dam to produce hydropower to the tune of a 100 mw. Ethiopias renaissance dam and its impact on sudanese water. Ethiopia and eritrea trade accusations over grand dam attack. He is referring to the grand ethiopian renaissance dam gerd, in the northwest corner of the country close to the border with. Ethiopia announced in april 2011 that it intends to build four large dams on the nile, including one of the largest in the world, the grand ethiopian renaissance dam formerly known as project x or the grand millennium dam.