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Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

phys.org

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Re: Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

#3
Cairo claims a historic right to the river dating from a 1929 treaty between Egypt and Sudan represented by colonial power Britain

And

A 1959 treaty boosted Egypt's allocation to around 66 percent of the river's flow, with 22 percent for Sudan

Wow. That sounds like it obliges Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to collectively use no more than 12% of the Nile's flow. Colonialism was not good to Africans south of the sahara. No wonder they got together and made their own treaty.

Re: Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

#4
post #2

The article mention : "Egypt fears its supplies will be reduced during the time it takes to fill the 74-billion-cubic-metre capacity reservoir." From information that I can find, the filling can take up to 7 years !

That's a solid insight (the bit about 7 years), thanks for finding that.

More detailed excerpt for other HN readers stumbling on this comment:

> Ethiopia, one of Africa's fastest growing economies in recent years, insists the dam will not affect the onward flow of water.

> But Egypt fears its supplies will be reduced during the time it takes to fill the 74-billion-cubic-metre capacity reservoir.

> Egypt considers the dam as a threat to its existence and Sudan has warned millions of lives will be at "great risk" if Ethiopia unilaterally fills the dam.

> A decade of negotiations have failed to result in a deal.

Re: Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

#5
post #3

Cairo claims a historic right to the river dating from a 1929 treaty between Egypt and Sudan represented by colonial power Britain And A 1959 treaty boosted Egypt's allocation to around 66 percent of the river's flow, with 22 percent for Sudan Wow. That sounds like it obliges Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to collectively use no more than 12% of the Ni…

Those countries have other sources of fresh water besides the Nile

Re: Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

#6
post #3

Cairo claims a historic right to the river dating from a 1929 treaty between Egypt and Sudan represented by colonial power Britain And A 1959 treaty boosted Egypt's allocation to around 66 percent of the river's flow, with 22 percent for Sudan Wow. That sounds like it obliges Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to collectively use no more than 12% of the Ni…

Wars are fought over water and water usage. It’s probably the most shared resource on earth with broad-reaching impacts that isn’t the earth, itself.

Re: Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

#7
post #5
post #3

Cairo claims a historic right to the river dating from a 1929 treaty between Egypt and Sudan represented by colonial power Britain And A 1959 treaty boosted Egypt's allocation to around 66 percent of the river's flow, with 22 percent for Sudan Wow. That sounds like it obliges Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to collectively use no more than 12% of the Ni…

Those countries have other sources of fresh water besides the Nile

Yes, but those sources, in many cases, are also source of the Nile. I mean, as a matter of hydrology, it's a basin. Unless you're implying that they can only take 12% of the flow of Nile tributaries, but would be free to take 100% of the flow from lakes that feed the Nile tributaries? Somehow, I don't think that's what the colonial treaties meant. I'm pretty certain any draw down of flow from Lake Tana for instance, would also violate the treaty. Definitely any draw down of flow from Lake Victoria would be a violation. There's no way the Sudan and Egypt would be OK with that.

Re: Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

#8
post #3

Cairo claims a historic right to the river dating from a 1929 treaty between Egypt and Sudan represented by colonial power Britain And A 1959 treaty boosted Egypt's allocation to around 66 percent of the river's flow, with 22 percent for Sudan Wow. That sounds like it obliges Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to collectively use no more than 12% of the Ni…

Ethiopia was the only country that wasn't successfully colonized (barring brief Italian occupation). It really is a shame that their government collapsed in the 70s.

Re: Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

#9
post #3

Cairo claims a historic right to the river dating from a 1929 treaty between Egypt and Sudan represented by colonial power Britain And A 1959 treaty boosted Egypt's allocation to around 66 percent of the river's flow, with 22 percent for Sudan Wow. That sounds like it obliges Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to collectively use no more than 12% of the Ni…

Wars are fought over water and water usage. It’s probably the most shared resource on earth with broad-reaching impacts that isn’t the earth, itself.

Oh, I agree.

I was just not fully informed on how one sided a lot of those water use treaties were. It's a bit jarring to see the details laid out like that.

Re: Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on Nile tributary

#10
post #5
post #3

Cairo claims a historic right to the river dating from a 1929 treaty between Egypt and Sudan represented by colonial power Britain And A 1959 treaty boosted Egypt's allocation to around 66 percent of the river's flow, with 22 percent for Sudan Wow. That sounds like it obliges Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to collectively use no more than 12% of the Ni…

Those countries have other sources of fresh water besides the Nile

Yes, and this is only one of the sources of the Nile.
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