Ethiopia has finished building its mega dam on the Blue Nile, a project that has long been a source of tension with neighboring countries Egypt and Sudan. The $4 billion dam is Africa’s largest hydro-electric plant and a major source of pride for Ethiopians.
The dam is seen as vital to meeting Ethiopia’s energy needs, but Egypt and Sudan view it as threatening their water supply from the Nile. In a statement announcing the completion of the project, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sought to reassure his neighbors by calling the dam a “shared opportunity.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Sudanese military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met earlier this week and stressed their rejection of any unilateral measures in the Blue Nile Basin. The dam is over 1 mile long and 145 meters high, with 85% of the Nile’s waters flowing from the Ethiopian highlands.
Ethiopia aims to produce electricity for its 60% population without access to power. Egypt relies on the Nile for nearly all its fresh water, fearing that a reduction in water flow could result in the loss of 200,000 acres of irrigated land. Sudan shares Egypt’s concerns and will be invited to the dam’s official inauguration in September.
Ethiopian leader Abiy Ahmed expressed willingness to engage constructively with Egypt and Sudan, but previous talks have failed to resolve differences. The completion of the Renaissance Dam marks a significant step forward for Ethiopia, despite ongoing tensions with its neighbors.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8z37g6p97o