Construction of the Renaissance Dam and its impact on downstream countries Egypt and Sudan

Abstract

The renaissance dam, known as the millennium dam, is located on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia in the Benishentul-Gumuz region,15 km (9) miles east of the Ethiopian-Sudanese border, and has been under construction since 2011. The main reason that Ethiopia relied on in completing the dam was to generate energy to compensate for the severe energy shortage in Ethiopia, as well as to export electricity to neighboring countries

The dam is expected to be the largest hydroelectric power station in Africa, and the seventh largest station in the world with a planned capacity. It amounts to 63 billion cubic meters, and will receive the order 13 or 14 in the world, becoming one of the largest reservoirs on the African continent.

 But despite the benefits that construction of the dam will bring, there are risks to downstream countries such as Egypt and Sudan, as the dam production of electrical energy exceeds Ethiopia’s uses, meaning if Ethiopia stops generating electricity, it will be forced to close the water drainage holes in the dam, and thus we will transfer the quantities of water. flowing into Egypt and Sudan, causing them to suffer from water scarcity.