Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

• The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has caused long-standing disputes between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam:

• It is a gravity dam along the Blue Nile River.
• It was proposed in 2011 in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia.
• The dam is located on Ethiopia’s flank of the Blue Nile, just 12 miles from its border with Sudan.
• This would be the seventh-largest hydroelectric plant in the world and the largest in Africa with a volume of 10,200,000 cubic metre.
• Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will be the most affected by the building of this dam as a majority of the river flows through them.

Issues and Concerns:

• One of the major concern is being how long it will take to fill up the dam, because majority of Africa being a desert region.
• As per estimate, it will take from five to 25 years,
• Filling of the dam will greatly affect the downward stream volume of water.
• Another concern is the rate of water evaporation with the countries lying so close to the equator
• The Blue (Nile origin - Ethiopia) travels into Sudan joining the White Nile and later flows into Egypt.

• Ninety per cent of the fresh water in Egypt comes in through the Nile
• Curbing the flow of the river may cause issues with the “security and survival of the nation”
• Sudan has its concerns over its two dams on the Nile meanwhile getting caught up between the two.
• International organisations and the US trying to negate the ongoing issues and concerns.

Ethiopia’s Stand:

• Ethiopia stands on firm ground about this dam bringing in economic development,
• The dam will generate approximately 6,000 MW of electricity which will fulfill the needs of population and industries.

Nile river:

• It is the longest river in the world,
• It stretches across 11 countries.
• It has a length of about 6,695 kilometers
• The Nile River forms an arcuate delta as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
• Deltas with triangular or fan-shape are called arcuate (arc-like) deltas.
• Three principal streams: the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile.