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Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt recently agreed  to resume negotiations to resolve their decade-long complex dispute over the Grand Renaissance Dam hydropower project in the Horn of Africa

Issue

• The Nile, Africa’s longest river, has been at the center of a decade-long complex dispute involving several countries that are dependent on the river’s waters.
  
• At the forefront of this dispute are Ethiopia and Egypt, with Sudan having found itself dragged into the issue.
  
• Spearheaded by Ethiopia, the 145-meter-tall (475-foot-tall) Grand Renaissance Dam hydropower project, when completed, will be Africa’s largest.
  
• The dam’s location on the Blue Nile tributary, it would potentially allow Ethiopia to gain control of the flow of the river’s waters.
  
• Egypt lies further downstream and is concerned that Ethiopia’s control over the water could result in lower water levels within its own borders.

Why does Ethiopia want this dam?

• Ethiopia’s goal is to secure electricity for its population and to sustain and develop its growing manufacturing industry.
• Addis Ababa anticipates that this dam will generate approximately 6,000 megawatts of electricity when it is completed, that can be distributed for the needs of its population and industries.
• Researchers believe that in addition to its domestic requirements, Ethiopia may be hoping to sell surplus electricity to neighbouring nations like Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea and South Sudan, that also suffer from electricity shortages, to generate some revenue.

Source: Indian Express