Egypt’s al-Sisi and America’s Biden Discuss Nile Dam Dispute

US President Joe Biden and Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi had an extensive discussion over Egypt’s long Nile Dam dispute with Ethiopia and Sudan on Monday.

A statement from the Egyptian presidency is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying that both presidents “agreed to strengthen diplomatic efforts during the coming period in order to reach an agreement that preserves water and developmental rights for all parties”.

Ethiopia has been constructing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) since 2011 on the main tributary of the River Nile.

When fully operational it will become the largest hydroelectric plant in Africa.

Egypt however has concerns that this will affect the flow of water in the Nile. Egypt relies on the Nile for 90% of its water.

Egypt fears that the construction of the Gerd will affect transport on the Nile which is essential in providing revenue for the government and affect the livelihood of farmers who depend on the water for irrigation.

For Ethiopia however, constructing the dam is set to relieve the country of its long-aged problem of lack of power supply for its surplus population.

When completed it is expected to be able to generate a massive 6,000 megawatts of electricity.

Ethiopia has an acute shortage of electricity, with 65% of its population not connected to the grid.

The energy generated will be enough to have its citizens connected and sell the surplus power to neighboring countries thus helping its citizens and generating much-needed revenue.

Talks involving the two countries, together with Sudan, to resolve the dispute have been ongoing but unsuccessful so far.

In the call between the two presidents, promises were made to help in resolving the dispute so that Ethiopia finishes the construction of the hydroelectric power plant and in a way that the water levels won’t be affected in Egypt.

By Joy Ngoiri