Ethiopian hydropower Nile project alarms Egypt

Prime Minister Zenawi's announcement that Ethiopia is set to build a much needed dam on the Nile is met with a floundering policy of denial and flattery by Egyptian Nile official

Ahram Online , Monday 14 Mar 2011

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Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, in a statement to Bloomberg, announced that Ethiopia will launch a hydropower plant project in the next few weeks.

This statement comes after a Nile treaty is set for ratification by six African nations excluding Egypt and Sudan to their dismay and disappointment.

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), a body formed by Ethipia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and lately Burundi, intends to legislate an agreement to allow Nile river diversions and projects to be implemented without prior consent from down-stream countries like Egypt.

Egypt has Veto power over decisions by up-stream countries on Nile water matters due to treaties signed in the 20s and 50s.

The addition of Burundi to the NBI makes the signatories six, the number required for a ratification of a treaty that might strip Egypt of its long-held power over Nile waters.

Abdul Fattah Motawi', head of Department of Nile Waters in the Egyptian ministry of irrigation called in a meeting to discuss the Nile Basin situation after the signing of Burundi with the NBI.

According to Shorouk newspaper, a source in the ministry of irrigation said that the technical committee following the case is frustrated with Motawi''s approach to the issue.

According to the committee, Motawi' is denying any serious risks for the building of the Ethiopian dam on Egyptian shares of Nile water.

Motawi' is allegedly dealing with the situation along the lines of the old regime, by trying to shrink the ability of Ethiopia to complete the project and sending lavish gifts to the Ethiopian irrigation minister, Shorouk’s source says.

Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia were highest last November, when Zenawi’s statements promoted a possible war with Egypt to settle water issues.

Egypt was able to calm the situation, and the NBI was to meet to discuss the Egyptian reservations this January, a meeting that was postponed due to the Egyptian uprising.

Egypt claims no Nile country may embark on any projects without the consent of all Nile Basin countries.

The plant to be constructed close the Sudanese border should generate 6,000 megawatts of power, largely needed by Africa’s second most populous nation suffering from frequent power outages.

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tufa

10-07-2011 01:41pm

hydropower

i hope i will improve

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Jamal

26-06-2011 12:49am

ET Hydro Elec Project

I am African American and have been to 5 East African countries - I plan to live and do business in Djibouti. I am pleased to hear of the prject and that all of East Africa to benefit. I proposed that rain water is also harvested requiring less drinking water from the Nile - same time providing more water to those down the river like Egypt and North Sudan. After July 2011, I think that South Sudan will also sign the six nation river nile treaty resulting in a 7 to 2 vote; and what about Eritrea and DRC? I am very proud to hear of this project sponsored by PM Meles.

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Mark

19-04-2011 03:49pm

Dead is Dead

To Egypt Govt. You should stop your old strategy and thinking. Ethiopians are all joined with their government and already every one is willing to pay what is required to successfully complete the project. This can never be stopped but Ethiopia has a plan to generate 25T MW dams still a head. The great millennium dam is no more negotiable as the fund is already paid. Dead is dead and try to stop subsequent dams through negotiation

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HAyalsew

19-04-2011 07:59am

Nile dam

Dont Fear Egyptians, since we Ethiopians have no habit to harm others because our religion restricts us from doing that. why Egyptians think like animals? please discuss and share this resource in win win strategy. Nile becomes a fuel for Ethiopians and we deliver our life and blood. we do t like to see our country in the poverty list, we want to change our image. Never never can curtail our effort.

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kia

14-04-2011 11:52am

zero sum politics

Egyptian leader have followed zero sum politics towards Ethiopia for the past many years. now Ethiopians have shown that they can build great dam with their own money & efforts. like the past going here & their to stop international institutions from giving support to Ethiopia is an old fashioned outdated strategy. so please Egyptians try to change your policy toward Africa in general & Ethiopia in particular. your gov't have served as American POLICE/correspondent/ in the middle east ...forgetting Africa. now you are paying for that. you are not to late to do that. whether you like it or not its time for countries like ethiopia to eradicate poverty and devlopment. peace be for Africa!!!!

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MOHAMED IBRAHIM

13-04-2011 07:36pm

The Nile River

To all Egyptians:- As you know very well, we are generouse to a fault. We give witout reservation but get with humiliation. Enough is Eough now. We have been giving you our resource without reservation thanks to our leaders. So please think with your foot to the ground and to work with the plan. Thank You

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Ketarik Temaru(Hailay.K)

11-04-2011 10:17pm

The Truth is still the Truth

I respect the Egyptian people as as a people. I know Egypt and Ethiopia are forrunners in civilization. I can also understand the difference between the good public opinion towards neighbours and the cronic schizophrenic leaders of egypt. They are always indoctrinating,manipulating,mind-controling the Egyptian people about Water politics,water war and RED NILE . These are the terifying words used by Egyptian leaders to Manupilate the fair-thinking minds of Egyptian people. But I want to ask these leaders: 1. Why are you defending our fair use of water while you are watering worlds driest desert?? 2.What is the legal balance of your thinking if we try limit your use of water in Sharm el sheikh and your petroleum????? 3 Why are you sticking colonial-era aggreements is the rule of colony still working?? But the Truth is still the Truth! Weapons can be defeated,but a war against angry people with IRON-WILL-DEFENCE cannot be won!! Turn the pages of history.

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Ketarik Temaru(Hailay.K)

11-04-2011 10:02pm

The Truth is still the Truth

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kiru

10-04-2011 10:00am

nile dam

well i am sure u have heard our history before but still i am gone tell u again no power can stop us once we start going specially now since we are stronger than we have been for long time world look out guess who is coming

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Son of Nile

09-04-2011 06:39pm

To Egyptian & Proud

Egypt was never a friend of Ethiopia and with this attitude you have Egypt will never be a friend of Ethiopia. If friendship means Egypt taking what Ethiopia owes that is not friendship either. Egyptians know that this international agreement they are talking about does not hold water. The first in 1929 is between Egypt and Great Britain the second is between Sudan and Egypt. How is Ethiopia to be is be bound by agreement that it is not a party to. This shows what Egypt wants is intemedation. Remember the arrogance of Anwar Sadat who said Ethiopians can go to hell. If to be a freind of Egypt means you take what is rightly ours we do not want your friendship

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