Ethiopia says Panel findings on Nile dam will end water dispute
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
June 3, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian government said on Monday that the final report announced by the International Panel of Experts will by large end a long-standing dispute on Nile water between Ethiopia and downstream countries particularly with Egypt.
Announcing their assessment report, the Panel of Experts said on Saturday that the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam won’t have any negative impacts on down stream countries of Sudan and Egypt.
According to the report, the design of Ethiopia’s Nile dam has met international standards and principles, in reference to an international treaty Egypt says violated by the dam project.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune, Ambassador Dina Mufti, Spokes person of the ministry of foreign affairs said the expertise finding is comprehensive and it would be a core ground that would end the disputes on Nile water resources.
“The reality has proofed that the project doesn’t harm lower riparian countries, anything other than that will be prejudice, traditional beliefs or ordinary perception”, he said.
“We hope Nile will now on be a source of cooperation and not conflict” he added.
The report concluded that completion of the Nile dam won’t have significant impact to downstream countries but will highly benefit them.
Ambassador Dina further said the dam project is not only Ethiopia’s but is a regional project that benefits all riparian and other African countries. The Ethiopian diplomat was alluding to the project of his government to export the power produced by the dame to Kenya, South Sudan and Sudan.
The panel has suggested extra impact assessment possibilities and proposed ideas with a view to help Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia harness better from the water resources and the dam project.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy in a statement affirmed commitment further cooperation with Nile basin countries particularly with Sudan and Egypt on the utilization of the Nile water.
It said the Ethiopian Government “would carefully assess the report by the panel of experts and facilitate cooperation forums to work together with lower riparian countries for common benefit”.
The Panel has submitted its final finding report to the respective governments of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt on Friday.
The Panel is a team of 10 experts, among whom six are withdrawn from Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia while the rest are international prominent experts.
DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN KHARTOUM AND CAIRO
On Sunday the Sudanese ministry of irrigation welcomed the findings of the report stressing that consultations will continue between the three capitals to
Commission will continue consultations between the governments of the three countries to follow up the implementation of its recommendations and to emphasize the mutual benefits, and will not damage any of the three countries.
However Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, has expressed dissatisfaction with the final report.
Mursi has sought Sudan takes immediate action to reach new agreement with Ethiopia to protect potential reduces the dam would cause to the flow of the Nile water reaching to its territory.
“[Ethiopia’s] studies were not adequate for a project of this scale, and the committee’s report recommended more studies of the economic and social aspects, the security of dams and water resources, not to mention the environmental aspects” said the Egyptian presidency.
According to Ethiopia’s Electric and power Corporation (EEPCo) the $ 4.8 Billion Grand Renaissance Dam being built in the Benishangul Gumuz region, only 30 Kilometers from the Sudan border, is currently completed 21%.
Last week Ethiopia began diverting the flow of the Nile River, rising concerns in Egypt.
Upon completion the hydro power plan t will have electric generation capacity of 6,000 MW.
(ST)