Commitment, hard work, harmony and collective thought pay off as these values help the bearer hit the set target. The current level of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) attests this fact, indeed, for Ethiopians from corner to corner of the globe have amalgamated energy to make their country’s vision—Damming Abbay—a reality.
Undeniably, Ethiopia has long been deprived of its right to garner economic, social and even political benefit out of damming rivers like Abbay as it could hardly finance the projects carried out on them. Besides, there have been futile attempts and severe plots against Ethiopia not to dam rivers as many feared that Ethiopia will shine out and being east African star if it is capable of well exploiting its natural resources thereby fostering economic progress and prosperity.
However, the truth is vice versa. So long as Ethiopia is a country believing in the principle of growing together, any nation of the world can bring about change enjoying a win-win approach with it.
Be that as it may, following the mysterious conspiracy of Egypt fearing that Ethiopia will be a powerful east Africa nation, the latter has spent a number of years not constructing the dam on the Abbay River.
Trekking a mile of journey and making the dam inevitable, countries which stood on the contrary came to the track and started talking about the unavoidable project. Hence, a tripartite committee was formed in 2012 to promote understanding and look into the benefits and impacts the project would have on the three countries, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. Aiming at primarily generating power, with an expected capacity of 6,000 MW, the main and saddle dams will also create reservoirs with an impounding ability of 74 billion cubic meters.
The regulated flow of water from the Renaissance dam will improve agriculture and the impact from evaporation of water from the dam will be minimal compared with other dams in Ethiopia, which will help the country underpin water conservation.
Thanks to the reformist leadership and its cohorts, the problems witnessed on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) were well sorted out and corrective measures have been applied towards rescuing the dam whose cornerstone was laid in 2011.
Cognizant of the fact that hydropower development has been a viable means to seize the ladder of triumph and an innovative form of power generation, Ethiopia has been capitalizing on its grand renaissance dam.
Fundamentally, it is strongly believed that Ethiopia has these days been armed with a weapon for lightening its more than 65 percent population suffering from blackout, reinvigorating economic progress and transformation as well as augmenting regional integration thereby pushing the Horn to the next ladder of success.
Honestly speaking, these three invaluable paybacks had been buried for centuries for two fundamental reasons: binding colonial laws that hindered Ethiopia from employing its natural resources and lack of commitment on the side of government as it could hardly secure funds accompanied with foreigners’ unwillingness to provide Ethiopia with sufficient fund to dam the great Abbay river since Ethiopia was not in a position to do so.
Not only is the dam a hydropower source to help a number of Ethiopia come out of blackout and enjoy development and transformation but it is also of paramount importance in fostering regional integration and safeguarding the lower riparian countries from being affected by flash floods.
Apart from helping meet the aforesaid indispensible benefits, the initiative has incorporated a number of objectives, including the provision of the lowest level of modern energy services for Ethiopians and other neighboring countries’ citizens, promoting the development and use of renewable energy sources and technologies in the countries of the Horn in particular and exporting to others in need.
Yes, without access to modern energy services, it is not possible to achieve economic growth thereby defeating poverty for good especially for developing countries like ours.
Besides, the availability of adequate, affordable and reliable energy services is essential for alleviating poverty, improving human welfare, raising living standards and, ultimately, achieving sustainable development. Adequate sustainable energy services are critical inputs in providing citizens with human health, education, transport, telecommunications and water availability and sanitation.
It is also of instrumental in achieving sustainable energy for all, development of systems that support the optimal use of energy resources in an equitable and socially inclusive manner via minimizing environmental impacts.
The Ethiopian Herald had a stay with Abdisa Tufa, a hydrologist graduated from Arba-Minch University to have a piece of information about the dam. He said, “The GERD, which is strongly believed to promote countries coordination, sustainable management and development of water and related resources based on mutual benefit, is significantly useful in fortifying social wellbeing by implementing strategic programs and providing leaders with scientific information and policy advice.”
The development of the water resources of the Abbay River and its tributaries has paved ways to come up with a number of large dams within the nation. These dams will be constructed for a variety of purposes including flood protection, irrigation and hydropower generation and the likes, he added.
“In so doing, the ever-increasing need for sustainable renewable energy, particularly hydropower, in the country and other neighboring ones will be well met. It also requires a human resource development, advanced training, dialogue and regional networking for the sharing of information and good practices,” he underscored.
According to Abdisa, with no doubt, trans-boundary benefit sharing occurs due to the flow of resources and knowledge between/among countries. Here, there are Trans boundary benefits such as reasonable and equitable water sharing across boundaries, including water used for consumptive use, but also for water flows to maintain aquatic ecological services and biodiversity and an agreed standard of water quality.
He further elucidated that equitable allocation of the ecological benefits that can be derived from sustainable utilization and management of water quantity has to be maintained to help countries lead a harmonious life.
Considering economic analysis of hydropower is important as hydropower development is justified on the grounds of its potential ability to increase the wealth of the region and requires coordination and consideration.
Truly, low-cost hydropower has been seen as one of the best ways to meet growing energy demand and has often been tied to the development of energy-intensive industries, as to Abdisa.
He also said that these developments have led to a fundamental shift in how best to plan, develop and operate hydropower projects, and resulted in a growing appreciation of the technology’s role in combatting climate change, reducing poverty and boosting prosperity.
Undeniably, as stated time and again, Egypt has used its extensive diplomatic connections and the colonial-era agreements to successfully prevent the construction of any major infrastructure projects on the tributaries of the Nile. As a consequence, Ethiopia has been made indolent for many decades not to eye at making significant use of rivers. However, thanks to the willingness and ability of Ethiopians at home and abroad, accompanied with the diligence of visionary leaders, to invest in the dam, the government is able to solicit a significant portion of the finance demanded to start the construction of the GERD. It has now reached over 80 per cent.
Ethiopia seeks to diversify its economy away from agriculture, which has been the mainstay of its economy so far. It has also continued intensifying home grown economy with a well-organized infrastructure development in a bid to expand investment thereby ensure prosperity.
“No doubt, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a major component of Ethiopia’s economic diversification plan. Once the construction of the dam is complete after a series of delays associated with political indecision and allegations of corruption in the military-run corporation that was the lead domestic contractor, it will be the largest dam in Africa,” he stated.
In general, Ethiopia hopes that the additional electricity capacity will help spur further economic development and allow it to export more to neighboring countries to increase its foreign exchange earnings. The country has now more focused on harnessing the untapped power of the Abbay River, which it has historically been discouraged from reaping socio-economic benefits it deserves.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
The Ethiopian herald August 1/2021
