International Water Conflict: The Nile - Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia Case Study Flashcards
1
Q
Description of location/source and background information.
A
- 2 major sources: White Nile and Blue Nile.
- 6700km long, world’s longest river.
- Egypt relies on Nile for 95% of water.
- Nile governed by colonial treaty and a later treaty between Egypt and Sudan left almost all of Nile’s water to them.
- Dam built September 2023, 170m tall, 1.8km wide, 234 million people so can sell energy.
- Blue Nile is 85% water.
2
Q
Why has the conflict arisen and what are the impacts?
A
- Ethiopia long claimed right to waters. In 2011, it challenged the colonial agreement, announcing construction of a large dam on Blue Nile near border of Sudan.
- Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) holds more volume than Blue Nile, producing 6000mW of electricity.
- Egypt claims 2/5 of rivers flow and tried to come to an agreement in 2015.
- GERD restricts flow downstream by 25%.
- Around dam, missiles have been installed.
3
Q
What is a possible solution to this conflict?
A
In Senegal, they had conflict of a river.
OMVS - Senegal development - treat river as MNC and makes sure every country gets water. Could do this for the River Nile.
4
Q
What are the positive impacts on human welfare?
A
- GERD will quadruple amount of electricity produced in country.
- Over 66% of Ethiopia’s 115 million citizens lack power, this’ll provide power for 76 million people.
- GERD regulates Blue Nile’s flow.
- GERD created 12,000 jobs.
- Irrigates over 1.2 million acres of arable land so millions of farmers can have a successful harvest.
5
Q
What are the negative impacts on human welfare?
A
- Ethiopia to fully control Blue Nile revenue.
- Reduce electricity of High Dam and Aswan Reservoir by 20%.
- Nile flow into Egypt reduced by 12-25x.
- Increase in seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers in North Delta.
- Threatening groundwater quality and increased salinity in reservoirs.
- Water deficit in river with average income of 10 billion m^3.
