AAU Symposium On the Nile and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

AAU Symposium On the Nile and the Grand Renaissance Dam

On Friday last week (June 28th) Addis Ababa University held a high-level symposium on the Nile issue with the theme: "Opportunities for Regional Development."

During the day-long discussions, scholars presented papers on Dam Safety, Geological Hazards, the Environmental Dimensions of the Nile Water Resources, and the Development and Perspectives of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, among other subjects. Dr. Yilma Seleshi from the Ethiopian Water Resource Institute, talking on Nile Hydrology and the GERD, said that the dam will reduce recurrent floods that create havoc for people and infrastructural facilities in Sudan, and arresting evaporation will afford a regulated and continuous flow downstream.

Research suggests that the Dam will save Sudan up to US$20 million a year from reduced sedimentation clearance costs. The Dam will also reduce the frequent floods that affect people and infrastructure on the banks of the Blue Nile. After assessing the impact of the Dam, the International Panel of Experts recently released its final report concluding that the dam posed no significant harm to downstream countries and will provide benefits to Egypt and Sudan by protecting them from flooding, reduce sedimentation, enable irrigation expansion, boost water-use efficiency and provide cheap and clean energy. Ethiopia could earn up to 2 million Euros a day by selling electricity to neighboring countries.

Addis Ababa University President, Dr. Admasu Tsegaye, who noted the University had a national obligation and responsibility to play a leading role in organizing and conducting such forums to provide evidence-based facts and information for participants about the Nile and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, said the Blue Nile was a sensitive and crucial subject both for Ethiopia and the lower riparian countries. He pointed out the people of Ethiopia had not been able to make use of this precious gift of nature for various reason and added that the Dam was a decisive move to harness the river in order to end poverty without affecting the interests of the lower riparian countries.

He said the symposium would provide useful input for the efforts being made to clear up confusion and doubts over the Dam, and "contribute to creating mutual understanding and trust among upper and lower riparian countries, decisive for collaboration to reap shared benefits from the construction of the GRD." The high-level symposium brought together over 300 participants including government officials, members of the diplomatic community, academia and development partners.