Ethiopia suffers from having 7.5 percent of the world's water shortage. To cure it's ills, it is tossing up what will be the largest dam in Africa, and the seventh largest in all the world.
It will also be Africa's largest hydro-electric generator. Owning one of the world's 20 largest hydroelectric generators in the world, Ethiopia will become the largest exporter of electricity in Africa. In an age when the world needs to shift from fossil fuels, such a large power plant is certainly a plus.
Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with a per capita gross national income of $890. With the coming of the dam, though, the nation might vault out of much of its poverty. The country already has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The dam will only improve that.
But, the dam comes at the consternation of Egypt. The Nile River continues on to Egpyt. The Egyptians, however, should consider that 59 percent of the water that reaches their country originates from the Ethiopian highlands. Ethiopia is but claiming what is theirs.
Still, Egypt -- in part due climate change -- could run short of water by 2025, so it is in need of the water. Especially while the reservoir behind the dam is filling, Egypt will be affected. Even if Ethiopia only fills the dam between five- and seven-year intervals, it will cut into Egypt's water 12 to 25 percent.
(Index -- Climate change info)
No comments:
Post a Comment