Flashpoint Nile

[marktwain]

As Ethiopia and Egypt square of over - water...and the mother of rivers..

Egypt lacks the water it needs for agriculture.^[10] The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, currently being constructed in Ethiopia will most likely adversely affect Lake Nasser. While the Renaissance Dam will benefit Sudan and Ethiopia, it has caused tensions between Egypt and Sudan and Ethiopia. Egypt is worried that the new dam will stop the Nile River from adequately filling Lake Nasser.^[11] The water supply of Lake Nasser produces electricity, and there is concern that diminishing water flowing into Lake Nasser will adversely affect Aswan Dam's ability to generate electricity. There are pumping stations that control the water going into Lake Nasser, and currently this project generates 10 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power each year to Egyptians.<sup>[12]

From Wikipedia</sup>

https://www.economist.com/middle-eas...aring-the-nile

Lake Nasser loses between 12 and 26 % of the yearly inflow of fresh water to evaporation...
Draining it down may be the only 'solution."

[BF69]

This issue has been bubbling for years. There may even be another thread on it somewhere around here. Egypt has made a few vague threats, and may have assisted local militants in stirring up problems, but there isn't much that it can do. This dam is a centrepiece in a long term plan to electrify & drought proof Ethiopia. Power may also be sold outside Ethiopia. There is little chance they will significantly alter their plans for Egypt's sake.

At this stage the plan is to keep back half the flow of the Blue Nile every year, which will mean it takes 5 years to fill. This year is supposed to be a big flow, so they might get even more water than planned. For a nation that is basically the water tower of Northeast Africa Ethiopia has gained little enough from its water resources. That will change dramatically over the next 10 years and the entire region will benefit.

Egypt and Sudan will grumble a bit, but they will cope.