Ministers discuss Nile potential

The Nile should act as a springboard for economic development, ministers from Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt declared at a summit aimed at harnessing the river's power. Shiferaw Jarso, Ethiopia's Minister of Water Resources, told delegates that the waters of the Nile must be shared in a fair way to “enhance confidence” between the three countries. The ministers, meeting for key two-day talks which began in Addis Ababa on Monday, are drawing up plans to develop at least seven projects aimed at harnessing the potential of the river. The initiative is part of the Eastern Nile projects directly backed by Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia whereby all three countries have agreed to set up specific schemes on the river. Among the first schemes that are likely to get underway are plans for reducing soil erosion along the river in all three countries and a flood early warning system. The countries also aim to generate electricity from the river which, according to some experts at the meeting, could be exported in the next 20 years. The Nile is often seen as a source for potential conflict because of fierce national competition over water for irrigation and power generation in the basin. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) warned in a recent report that potential "water wars” were likely in areas where rivers are shared by more than one country. But Dr Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Egypt's Minister of Water Resources said that cooperation between the countries offered enormous potential. “Without action on the ground, the challenges of food insecurity and famine, poverty, environmental degradation and rapid population growth will intensify,” he warned. David Grey, from the World Bank’s Nile River team, told IRIN that some US $2 billion could be invested in projects in the coming years. But he also called for private sector investment. He hailed the Nile initiative as a major breakthrough, saying that cooperation between the three countries would “foster prosperity and peace”. Grey reminded ministers that the Nile could offer real alternatives to the massive food insecurity which plagues the region as well as the limited access to electric power. “There is dispute and even conflict in the region, and cooperation and integration between your nations are powerful alternatives,” he told the meeting. The overall Nile Basin Initiative – supported by 10 countries – aims to bolster cooperation among the nations which rely on its waters. Burundi, DRC, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan Tanzania and Uganda – with a total population of around 300 million people - all have a stake.