The International Panel of Experts (IPoE) on the Grand Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam (GERD) has submitted its final report to the governments
of the three riparian states-Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan. Ethiopia in
good faith called the two riparian states to form the international
panel of experts so as to investigate if the GERD will cause any
significant negative effect to the downstream states.
With the agreement
between the Ministers of water affairs of the three riparian states the
panel of experts was established with two experts from each of the
three riparian states and four international experts chosen by the
consensus of the riparian states. After its establishment the IPoE
studied the designing and related documents and the project site at
Guba-Benshangul Gumuz for almost a year. The mandate of the IPoE was to
study the benefit of the dam to the riparian states and as well to
investigate if the dam will cause any significant harm to downstream
states and to propose any possible corrective mechanisms to the project
owner-Ethiopia. Accordingly, the IPoE has submitted its final report to
the governments of the three riparian states on June 1, 2013.
Previously, this blog reported that, some Egyptian media were trying to
influence the final report of the IPoE. And I have stated that, the
final report will not by any means continue anything in reference to the phrases “Egypt’s or Sudan’s share or quota.”
Thus according to the final report which will be publically released
for opinion after the governments of the three countries investigation,
the following are the major findings. As announced in the media, the
Report has stressed that the design of the dam meets international
standards, the dam will benefit the three riparian states and it will
not also create significant harm to the two downstream states.
In case,
if there are further benefits to be identified and any negative effects
from the dam, the Report farther recommended the need to do additional
research. The dam also recommends the need to work together among the
riparian states. Following, the submission of the Report the Ministry of
Water and Energy announced that it will take time to probe the final
report and pledge to cooperate with riparian states on the Nile for
mutual benefit and appreciated the works of the IPoE.
On the other hand, according to news from Egypt the, Egypt State Information Service stated that, “The
report also recommended changing and amending the dimensions and the
size of the dam before embarking on implementation and setting a
timetable illustrating the water revenues if the River Nile during the
coming 60 years.” This is not, though, heard from the statement of
the Ministry of Water and Energy of Ethiopia. In addition to this,
Reuters citing the President of Egypt stated that, “Citing
the findings of the report, the presidency said Ethiopia’s “studies
were not adequate for a project of this scale, and the committee’s
report recommended more studies of the economic and social aspects, the
security of dams and water resources, not to mention the environmental
aspects”.”
Acroding to the Egyptian state run ahram online stated that, ‘The
report, according to the spokesman, recommended further social and
economic studies into the dam’s impact, as well as further study of the
environmental impact of the dam and its potential safety.” The
egyptian media and even Reuters have quoted the president of Egypt
saying the study made on the dam is inadequate. It should be clear that
recommending further social and economic studies does not mean that the
study on the dam is inadequate. The Ministry of Water and Energy of
Ethiopia in its televised statement have stated that the recommendation
of the IPoE is to make further study on to identify if there are any other benefits or any negative effect. It must be underlined on if any.
The governments of the riparian states must sit and discuss the matters on a round table
than throwing words which will exacerbate divides. The way the Egyptian
presidency announced its statements with an over negatively-toned voice
will not help the cooperation needed between the riparian countries
regarding the GERD or any other projects for mutual benefit.
Waiting the release of the report to the public, this blog urges the
Government of Ethiopia to look in to the different phrases and words
which might be inappropriately included. Words such as Egypt’s
share/quota, Sudan’s share/quota-as these are contentious issues that
Egypt needs upstream states to accept. Following the news reports from
Reuters and Egypt State Information Service, this blog speculates that
the Report may contain contradictory findings or messages of what so
ever. The need for further study on the GERD may not hold the
construction of the dam nevertheless watching after words is important.
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