Ethiopia starts Blue Nile diversion in dam project

Members of the Ethiopian Orthodox church walk in the source of the Blue Nile in northern Ethiopia on August 17, 2010
Members of the Ethiopian Orthodox church walk in the source of the Blue Nile in northern Ethiopia in 2010. Ethiopia has begun diverting the Blue Nile as part of a giant dam project, officials said Wednesday, risking potential unease from downstream nations Sudan and Egypt.

Ethiopia has begun diverting the Blue Nile as part of a giant dam project, officials said Wednesday, risking potential unease from downstream nations Sudan and Egypt.

The $4.2 billion (3.2 billion euro) Grand Renaissance Dam had to divert a short section of the river—one of two major tributaries to the main Nile—to allow the main dam wall to be built.

"To build the dam, the natural course must be dry," said Addis Tadele, spokesman for the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo), a day after a formal ceremony at the .

The natural course of the river was diverted about 550 metres (yards) from its natural course, Addis said, but stressed that would not be affected.

"There is no problem with the river levels," he added.

The first phase of construction is expected to be complete in three years, with a capacity of 700 megawatts.

Once complete, the dam will have a capacity of 6,000 .

Both Sudan and Egypt, arid nations that rely heavily on the Nile for water including for agriculture, are extremely sensitive about projects that could alter the flow of the river.

Boats of the Blue Nile Sailing Club float on the river in Khartoum on March 10, 2007
Boats of the Blue Nile Sailing Club float on the river in Khartoum in 2007. Both Sudan and Egypt, arid nations that rely heavily on the Nile for water including for agriculture, are extremely sensitive about projects that could alter the flow of the Blue Nile.

However, EEPCo insists the project will not impact downstream needs, claiming the dam will provide "highly regulated outflows" by reducing floods at peak times and providing more water during otherwise low flows.

The dam project, in Ethiopia's northwestern Benishangul-Gumuz region near the border with Sudan, was launched in April 2011 by late prime minister Meles Zenawi.

Funding is being raised publicly, with the state raising funds locally, and no external financing has been provided.

Ethiopia is constructing a series of dams in order to produce for local consumption and export.

EEPCo has plans to establish to neighbouring countries, including Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti.

One of Ethiopia's deputy Prime Ministers, Demeke Mekonnen, officially launched the river diversion Tuesday, alongside EEPCo chief Mihret Dibebe.

When completed the dam wall will stretch almost 1.8 kilometres (about one mile) in length and 145 metres (475 feet) in height.

© 2013 AFP

Citation: Ethiopia starts Blue Nile diversion in dam project (2013, May 29) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2013-05-ethiopia-blue-nile-diversion.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Ethiopian dam spurs debate

0 shares

Feedback to editors