Egypt-Ethiopia Conflict on GRED

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Egypt-Ethiopia Conflict on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)-

Why In News – Recently, Egypt has announced that it is willing to resume negotiations with Ethiopia and Sudan concerning the GERD

This Dam is located on River Blue Nile in Ethiopia. River Blue Nile is a Tributary of River Nile. The construction of the GERD began in 2011

Funding- Government Bonds and private funds to pay for the project.

Dam’s Importance for Ethiopia- According to Ethiopia, This Dam will generate approximately 6,000 megawatts of electricity after completion. Ethiopia will reduce electricity shortages problem and help the country’s manufacturing industry. Ethiopia can supply electricity in neighbouring  nations and earn revenue in exchange. Ethiopia Sees this as a matter of sovereignty .

Neighbouring nations Concern- Sudan, Egypt, South Sudan, Uganda all these nations use river  Nile’s water for fulfill their requirements .

·         Egypt- It lies downstream  on the Nile. The dam would jeopardize food and water security and livelihoods of ordinary Elyptian citizens. Egypt has also written to the UNSC concerning the matter and also implied that the dam would cause armed conflict between two countries. Egypt has proposed a longer timeline. The longer it takes to fill the reservoir the less impact will be there on the water level of the river

·         Sudan is likely to benefit from the power generated by the dam. Sudan has proposed joint management of the dam.

There is a possibility that the conflict would threaten the vital international trade route through the Suez Canal and along the Horn of Africa.