New Initiatives and Rising Tensions Over the Nile: A Deep Dive

While in the first video of this two-part series, we focused on the importance of the Nile River for its riparian nations, this blog explores innovative initiatives for utilizing the Nile and examines a contentious project between Egypt and Ethiopia.

Egypt’s Ambitious Water Projects 🌊

Sadat Canal & Toshka Lakes

A large part of Egypt’s population resides in the Nile Delta, which is vital for both human habitation and agricultural production. However, climate change and rising sea levels pose significant threats to this region. A sea-level rise of one meter could flood more than a quarter of the Nile Delta.

To counteract the high population concentration and create more arable land, Egypt initiated the Sadat Canal project in 1978. This canal allows high water levels to drain into a plateau northwest of Lake Nasser. Between 1998 and 2001, this led to the creation of the Toshka Lakes. However, evaporation in this area has caused these lakes to shrink over time, despite their initial promise.

The New Valley Project

The Sadat Canal filling is part of a more extensive venture known as the New Valley Project, originally proposed in 1968 by President Gamal Abdel Nasser. This initiative aims to cultivate land in the Western Desert by creating a second river course connecting several oases. In 1997, President Hosni Mubarak revived these plans, leading to the construction of the Sheikh Zayed Canal with financial support from the United Arab Emirates.

Although the first construction phase is complete, the canal has yet to reach the first oasis. Nonetheless, President El-Sisi has announced plans to resume the project.

Sudan’s Dams: Irrigation and Hydropower 💧

Sudan has several dams on the Nile, primarily used for irrigation and hydropower:

• Sennar Dam (completed in 1925): Used for irrigating the Gezira plain.
• Roseires Dam (opened in 1966): Assists in irrigation efforts.
• Merowe Dam (finished in 2009): Mainly used for energy production.

Ethiopia’s Grand Damming Plans ⚡

Mega Projects and Egyptian Concerns

Since the 90s, Ethiopia has constructed numerous dams for electricity generation, a move heavily criticized by Egypt. One significant project is the Beles Hydroelectric Power Plant, completed in 2010, which escalated tensions between the two nations. However, the primary point of contention is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

The GERD, near Ethiopia’s border with Sudan, will be Africa’s largest hydropower plant with a capacity of 6,000 megawatts. The dam will double Ethiopia’s power generation capacity, allowing the nation not only to secure its electricity supply but also to export energy. The reservoir created by the dam will be one of the continent’s largest.

Once completed, filling the reservoir will take between 3 to 15 years. A rapid fill could significantly reduce water flow to Sudan and Egypt, while a slower fill is not in Ethiopia’s interests. Additionally, evaporation will cause substantial water loss, exacerbating Egypt’s fears of reduced water supply.

Diplomatic Standoff

Egypt invokes a historical agreement, the 1956 Nile Water Agreement, to assert its water rights. According to this agreement, Egypt is entitled to 66% of the Nile’s water, Sudan gets 22%, and the remaining 12% is accounted for through evaporation. Other Nile basin countries were not part of this deal, despite contributing to the river’s flow.

In 2010, upstream nations sought a new arrangement for more equitable water distribution. However, Egypt and Sudan refuse to renegotiate their shares. Talks between Egypt and Ethiopia over the GERD have yet to yield a resolution. Former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi even threatened military action, although current leaders like Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, 2019 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Egyptian President El-Sisi advocate for cooperation.

Future Solutions for Nile River Management 🌍

While reconciling conflicting interests remains complex, all Nile nations understand the importance of collaboration in addressing water-related challenges. Potential solutions for securing water supplies include:

• Building more dams for agricultural, industrial, and domestic use.
• Increasing seawater desalination plants, though expensive and environmentally taxing.
• Implementing water reclamation technologies and more efficient irrigation methods, like drip irrigation.
• Rationing water consumption across various sectors.

Historically, the Nile has played a vital role in the region, reflecting human dependence on regenerative natural cycles. As population growth and climate change persist, the importance of judicious Nile management will likely increase in the coming decades.