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The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
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THE GRAND ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE DAM
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Comparison of the Nile River to Amazon and Mississippi Rivers
One of the most important rivers in the world is the Nile as it is the longest and oldest. Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda are the eleven countries that depend on it. (Pedersen) Ethiopia's government started the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile in 2011. The GERD reservoir will have total and active storage volumes of 74 BCM, covering an area of 1874 km2 at a full supply level of 640 m above sea level. Ethiopia sometimes referred to as the "Roof of Africa," is one of the highest-lying nations in Africa. With the second largest population in Africa (80 million), it is also one of the poorest nations on the continent and has experienced unpredictable rainfall as a result of climate change. The government made the decision to construct The GERD in order to meet the increasing demand and boost the economy. This project will cost around $5 billion, according to the proposal. The dam was built to store and deliver water as well as address the issue of limited energy.
WHAT IS IT?
(Haddad)
(Tesfa)
OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE
(Aiken)
AFFECT ON THE ECOSYSTEM
The GERD will have a significant impact on nations bordering the Nile River. It is a dam in north-western Ethiopia, located around 14 kilometers from Sudan. The peak months for rainfall in this region are May through October. A substantial amount of sediment, animal, and plant debris will be washed into rivers by rain, which has a considerable effect on the water quality. (Chen) As more dams are built, freshwater supply problems and concerns for animals are becoming more widespread. The construction of big dams, like the Renaissance Dam, has a significant impact on the ecosystems hundreds of kilometers downstream, often in neighboring countries. Another effect of dam construction is on the river's dynamics. Several natural processes result in the formation and maintenance of rivers. Changes to these natural processes have greater consequences, especially downstream. The aquatic life upstream of the development will also be damaged since the Nile's water level will be reduced. Water scarcity means that an ecosystem that was previously a river will now resemble a lake, which is a massive shift for the local species. The dam will also entirely separate the spawning areas by blocking fish species from migrating, which swim upstream to breed. In addition, the amount of water that is being kept behind the dam will cause changes in the water's temperature, chemical structure, and oxygen concentration, which will allow non-native species to take over the new environment. The habitat loss in the region that is flooded to store water behind the dam will have a substantial impact on both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. (Aiken)
WHY BUILD THE GERD?
Despite the issues that this construction could lead to, there are a number of benefits to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is now Africa's largest hydroelectric project. Currently, only 56% of Ethiopia's population has access to electricity. The vast majority of the people will have increased access to power when the GERD is completed, and the economy will be stimulated. When fully working, it is expected to generate more than 5,000 megawatts of power, more than doubling the country's production level. (Ethiopia starts generating power from River Nile Dam) Furthermore, it will lower the Aswan High Dam's capacity, saving around six billion cubic meters of water in the process.
(Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project, Benishangul-Gumuz SHARE)
BENEFITS OF THE GERD
(Eldakhakhny)
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
(Klemeš)
GERD can cause environmental harm and water insecurity, despite the fact that it is promoted as a green source of power. The natural cycle of floods that distributes biologically rich silt on river banks, enhancing the available agricultural land, and supporting the cycles of the local ecosystem is disrupted by dams with huge reservoirs. As the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is being built, additional changes to the Nile's environment may be caused and will result in permanent harm to the area.
The dam construction will have several impacts on the biodiversity of the Nile river:
- Rivers get blocked when sections below dams are fully dewatered. Dams disrupt fish and other wildlife movements, stop the flow of plants and nutrients and restrict leisure activities. Fish pathways can let certain fish move across a dam, but the presence of several dams along a river makes safe travel difficult.
- Slowing down rivers is a significant impact of the dam that leads to the devastation of marine life. Salmon and other fish species rely on consistent flows to discharge them downstream early in their lives and lead them upstream years later to breed. During migration, fish become confused and are trapped in stagnant reservoir pools. In addition, this changes the water temperature. The majority of dams raise water temperatures by slowing water flow. The amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere increases as water temperature rises, contributing to global warming. These temperature extremes often destroy local populations because fish and other species are sensitive to them. When river flows are slowed, dams enable silt to accumulate on the floor and bury fish spawning habitats. Heavy metals and other contaminants are formed in the silt that gathers above dams. Dams trap gravel, logs, and other debris, preventing their usage downstream as food and habitat. (Klemeš)
- During the summer it is very common that eutrophication occurs, causing an excessive bloom of algae in reservoirs. This leads to hypoxia which is the depletion of oxygen in rivers. Fish downstream are killed when low-oxygen water from behind the dam is released.
- It will raise the risk of predation. Warm, muddy reservoirs are typically beneficial to native species' predators. When passing through fish ladders or turbines, fish are either hurt or startled, making them easy prey for flying predators like gulls and herons. (How Dams Damage Rivers)
WATER REACTION TO THE DAM
The local river and the plants surrounding it are largely impacted by the change in the natural process of the water flow. The destruction of vegetation is a big disadvantage of GERD as it can preserve soil, conserve water, filter pollutants, produce wood, and absorb carbon dioxide.
During dam construction, the amount of vegetation surrounding it decreases while the area of water increases. The Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has had a detrimental effect on the vegetation and water level in the area, but a positive impact on the water quality.
The quality of the water has improved. Organic matter is a frequent component of water, and its presence is one of the key indicators of how polluted an area is. The reservoir and upstream reach may have better water quality as a result of the dam's ability to slow the flow of water and settle out any suspended particles. However, the downstream shore, like the land on the Nile River in Egypt, is no longer as productive as it once was. This has to do with the decrease in suspended particles in the water, which has a considerable consequence on its agriculture. The problem is that when the upstream river's banks and bed erode, bridges, dams, and other structures may be damaged. (Chen)
THE IMPACT ON THE WATER IN THE RIVER
(Chen)
(River Processes)
There has been a harmful impact on the water level. Using the river water to generate power, dams remove water required for valuable in-stream ecosystems. The change in groundwater levels, especially those further downstream, indicates a negative effect of the dam on water levels. The groundwater supply in downstream coastal countries like Egypt is decreased when a dam is closed because the water level of the river downstream slowly drops. As a result, this will affect the amount of water consumed along the shoreline upstream and might be an outcome of less water contained. This would eventually cause the ground to collapse. The coastal city may undergo seawater intrusion as a consequence of the water level being too low, which will also cause soil salinization. This will affect plant growth and overall environmental health. (Chen)
(Chen)
(Hussein)
WHAT WILL BE SAVED?
The dam will be able to withstand floods of up to 19,370 cubic meters per second, remove 100 million cubic meters of alluvium from Sudan, and enable irrigation of about 500,000 hectares of additional agricultural land. When finished, it will also prevent around 40 kilometers of floods in Sudan. (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project, Benishangul-Gumuz SHARE)
The GERD will store 74 BMC for the three countries, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt to use this water resource in case of a drought. Additionally, the GERD will provide controlled flow, assisting the downstream regions in better managing their individual reservoirs. Recurrent floods and other negative effects of climate change will be decreased by GERD. The dam will also capture 90% of the sediment, preventing harm to irrigation canals and equipment. (The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project)
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES
(El-Said)
A war for water to survive
DIFFICULTIES FOR COMMUNITIES
A major social impact downstream of the dam is a decrease in resources, which results in poor crop production. But, it is often the primary source of food for these local communities, meaning that this will lead to further problems such as famine. In addition, the canals, irrigation plans, roads, power lines, and industrial projects that go along with dams have caused people to lose their land and homes. The submergence of human settlements is another element displacing people. The population closest to the dam's construction is most at risk. It is predicted, that the project will leave almost 20,000 people displaced. (Aiken)
SOCIAL IMPACT
(Michaelson)
INTERFERENCE OF BOTH
Furthermore, political difficulties have arisen between Ethiopia and the nations downstream, such as Egypt and Sudan, as a result of the dam's construction. The Nile supplies these countries with around 86% of their fresh water supply. Egypt has relied on the Blue Nile River for thousands of years as a consistent source of water for farming and drinking, thus the building of the dam might have a big impact on the country's capacity to produce food and access to clean water. The size of the reservoir that will be built and the time it will take to fill are the two primary concerns with the GERD project. These issues will reduce Egypt's share of Nile River water and, therefore, have an impact on Egypt's water security. (El-Nashar)
Different filling scenarios of 3, 7, 10, and 21 years, with the related losses in agricultural land, would result in Egypt's water being lost. Egypt's economy will eventually be impacted by everything. Egypt's agriculture sector output, employment, food imports, and food exports of the GERD was analyzed. According to the study, a quick GERD filling over three years would cause the Egyptian economy to lose $51 billion and 4.74 million jobs, resulting in a 2024 GDP per capita that is 6% lower than it would be without the GERD. (Wheeler) For Egypt, it would be ideal to delay reservoir filling for a longer period of time so that their losses would be minimum.
SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES
(Siddig)
WHY IS IT VALUABLE FOR SOCIETY?
GERD will help millions of people escape poverty, a severe concern in Ethiopia due to its developing economy. The dam will give more than 60 million Ethiopians access to energy, which is a substantial improvement as approximately half of the population does not have easy access to electricity. It will also provide the service of industrial and agricultural economies with reasonably priced electricity. In addition, up to 12,000 jobs are predicted to be created during the dam’s construction, decreasing the issue of unemployment. (The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project)
SOCIAL BENEFITS
(ABU ZAID)
(Tsukerman)
ENCOURAGING CHANGE
Mega-dams = Mega-damage
Solution: Small Hydro Plants
PROPOSAL
To reduce the impact of the Grand Ethiopian Ressainance Dam on the Nile river and the human population around it, several proposals are offered.
By creating an integrated strategic plan that considers the demand for energy and various sources available, it is possible to resolve the tensions related to the construction of the GERD. Mega-dams are designed without taking into account the regional impact on the entire watershed. Installing a range of renewable energy technologies, such as smaller-scale hydro on tributaries, might supply power consistently and affordably while safeguarding local residents and ecosystems. Small hydropower systems are capable of producing cost effective, clean, and sustainable electricity. They can be developed anywhere there is sufficient water pressure and flow to facilitate energy production, even in rural or undeveloped areas. The small hydro plants require little to no water storage because they rely on the river's current to operate their turbines and produce power. They naturally do their job without disturbing the water flow.
The watersheds also greatly enhance protection against the risks of global warming and are the most successful approach of carbon sequestration. (Ricciardi)
Moreover, it minimizes the social impact of conflicts over land rights, the displacement of populations, and biodiversity loss.
(Types of Hydropower Plants)
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
Another major goal is making the GERD fish-friendly. A way to achieve this is by operating hydropower using 3D ultrasound tracking for fish detection and monitoring the situation in the river. It is possible to make turbines efficient and still be fish-friendly. Reducing the height of the dams to make the water movement safer and simpler to pass through is one technique that may be taken into consideration. Another idea would be to stop power production while fish are migrating, but this would need constant focus and supervision of the location and conditions. (Bilby)
Both of these methods incorporate the use of new technologies which will allow GERD to become a safer provider of electricity for the environment and a completely green source of power. However, the primary limitation of the recommendation would be the economic factor. The innovative equipment would be rather expensive and the original budget planned to recreate the project will turn out to be too little to fulfill all of the needed resources required for a completely beneficial hydropower dam.
SAVE MARINE SPECIES
(Brown)
(Santana)
THE NILE RIVER LIFE
WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?
THIS IS WHAT THE WORLD WILL FACE...