Water Cycle Case Study - The GERD Flashcards
1
Q
Where is it located?
A
Ethiopia, along the Blue Nile downstream of the Tana lake
2
Q
What does GERD stand for?
A
Gramd Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
3
Q
What type of dam is it?
A
Roller-compacted concrete
4
Q
How many power stations does it have?
A
Two
5
Q
How many spillways does it have?
A
Three
6
Q
Does it have a saddle dam?
A
Yes
7
Q
What is a saddle dam?
A
A secondary dam
8
Q
Is it Africa’s biggest hydroelectric plant?
A
Yes
9
Q
How much does it cost?
A
US $5 billion
10
Q
How tall is it?
A
170m
11
Q
When did it begin generating electricity?
A
February 2022
12
Q
How much does the reservoir contain?
A
74 billion cubic metres of water
13
Q
What are the advantages of the GERD?
A
- generates hydropower = capacity is 6000 megawatts
- can generate up to 2% of Ethiopias annual GDP
- allows for expansion of agricultural land by 2 million acres
- has a flood retention basin which protects downstream in periods of heavy rainfall
- storage capacity of 74 billion cubic metres (act as strategic reserve during drought)
- diplomatic route of working with Egypt to resolve water disputes
-hydropower = clean resource, reduce country’s C02 emissions
-can double electricity production = useful for 60m people who have no access to electricity - designed to trap 100 years of sediment inflow
14
Q
What are the Downsides of the GERD
A
- Reduces water supplies to Egypt by 1/3
- alters natural flow of the Nile = affect biodiversity and ecosystems
- during drought the dam may exacerbate water scarcity downstream
- construction has resulted in displacement of communities
- geopolitical disagreements
- construction was delayed so went over the expected budget
- possible increase in water bourne diseases
- Egypt have concerns over structural integrity and its potential to fail
- Egypt relies on the Nile for 97% of its water needs
- The UN has said Egypt could run out of water by 2025
