Donors approve $420m for River Nile projects study

KAMPALA, Uganda, Nov 12, 2004 (PANA) — Donor agencies have approved $420 million for a five-year review of the River Nile water projects, some of which have brewed controversy among countries sharing Africa’s longest river.

The review will cover proposed development of hydropower,
resource potentials, water resources and irrigation projects
linked to the river.

It will also focus on floods that have wrecked the river’s course and human settlements, and why some areas register near dryness of the water.

Egyptian Water Minister Mahmoud Abu-Zeid told an African
Ministers for Water Council here recently that Netherlands is one
of the major donors of the grant. Others contributors are
Germany, United Kingdom Finland, Denmark and Japan.

“The projects will draw a comprehensive plan for the development
of the River Nile and Uganda is the major center for the
projects,” Zeid revealed.

River Nile is shared by 10 countries, with Egypt offering experts on managing floods and irrigation.