The Grand Renaissance Dam ( A problem or solution?)

When it is finished in 2017 the GRD will be Africa's largest hydroelectric dam (Hammond 2013). Despite Ethiopia claiming ‘natural rights’ and challenging Egypt’s dominance by constructing the dam, the resulting build-up of tension between Ethiopia and Egypt is based on a misunderstanding of the risks the dam poses to Egypt (Whittington et al 2014). The motivations behind the construction of the dam are obvious. Despite being described as the ‘Water Tower of Africa’, in 2003 a mere 3% of its hydropower potential had been developed.). Below is a table comparing the GRD to other large dams.

(Figure 1)

Egypt is particularly concerned about the GRD especially in relation to its water availability. At times of low flow in the Blue Nile, the GRD may prevent Egypt from withdrawing adequate water supplies and Egypt may be negatively affected by irrigation projects. However there is restricted understanding of the potential impacts of the Dam, especially to Egypt (Hammond 2003)

It can be argued that Egypt should be actively promoting the construction of the GRD as hydropower generation is in general a non-consumptive water-use (Whittington et al 2014) and demotes the alternative pathway for Ethiopia, which is to develop irrigation networks, which is a bigger threat to Egypt’s water security. Furthermore the dam will produce surplus energy, which can be exported across the basin potentially benefitting the wider region (Hammond 2013)