THIRSTY FOR THE NILE

Previously I discussed the potential of groundwater for achieving food security in Africa. In this blog I move on to the use of surface water through dam construction and its impacts on food production, while addressing disputes over transboundary water-use across the Nile.  

Figure 1: The Nile River Delta (Egypt) (Source)

Egypt's water availability:

Egypt, a nation of 106 million people finds itself at the centre of battling two most pressing global issues: food and climate crises. The country suffers from persistent water shortages, while climate change also reduces its agricultural productivity. 40% of the country’s available freshwater is withdrawn for use, making it one of the most highly water-stressed nations in the world (Hamza and Mason 2004).  

With 95% of its land vast desert and uninhabitable, the majority of its population lives along the strip of the Nile River Valley and the Nile Delta. Located at the head of the Nile, it is the sole source of freshwater for Egypt. The Egyptian government describes the country’s water issues as both domestic and international. The nation’s rapid population growth combined with the effects of climate change has reduced per capita water availability, ultimately restricting its agricultural production. While internationally Egypt’s over-reliance on the Nile, a transboundary river basin has been a source of unresolved dispute within the region.

Video: 'Why is Egypt's lifeline drying' (Source) 

The GERD and its implications on food, water, and energy security: 

Competition for the Nile’s water has been growing over the last three decades, but recently escalated due to the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in 2011. The GERD, a €3.34 billion hydro-electric mega-dam situated on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia has an expected design capacity of 6000 MW and a total storage of 74km3 (Kahsay et al. 2015).   The GERD has the potential to power not only Ethiopia, but also its neighbours guaranteeing economic development for the country. Alongside providing hydroelectric power, the GERD also offers other benefits, such as (Taye et al. 2016): 

• Providing regulated stream flows during dry season which can support year-round irrigation
• Controlling floods and their impacts on commercial and agricultural land 
• Trapping sediment, reducing silt build-up in irrigation canals 
• Improving water quality and reducing costs for drinking water treatment

Despite these benefits, downstream in Egypt the GERD is seen as a major threat. The GERD’s location on the Blue Nile will provide Ethiopia full control of the flow of freshwater into downstream Sudan and Egypt. Unable to prevent the construction of the GERD, Egypt now fears the filling of the 74km3 reservoir will significantly cut its water supplies, with projections suggesting water supplies to be reduced by more than a third with agricultural losses of up to $51 billion.

Is there a solution?

With promises of lifting the East African region out of poverty, through improved access to water supply and electricity, the GERD represents a huge regional power potential. However, achieving this economic growth will require cooperation amongst Nile riparians in adopting a basin-wide approach for management of the Nile.