One of the biggest conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Africa is brewing over natural resources. In this case—the water from the Nile River and how upstream damming affects the countries Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt, and their share of water and hydropower.
A new article in Communications Earth & Environment provides a scientific framework for operating the Nile's "mega" dams during prolonged droughts to balance generating sustainable hydropower while minimizing the water deficit for people living downstream.
The research, co-authored by Essam Heggy, co-principal investigator at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering Center for Arid and Water Research Exploration (AWARE) within the USC Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, evaluates the efficiency of multiple drought-mitigation policies related to the operations of the Nile's mega-dams.
Most of the Nile River flows originate from the highlands in Ethiopia and flow northward to the lowlands in Egypt and to the Mediterranean. The rising dispute is over what control the dam operators should have over the flowing water during prolonged periods of drought. While Egypt relies on the Nile for water, Ethiopia relies on its newly completed mega-dam, named Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), for hydroelectric power.
Corresponding author Essam Heggy explains the source of tension as follows, "Nile upstream hydropower dams will bring electricity to 60% of the population of Ethiopia while 98 % of Egypt's annual renewable water resources come from the same river; the upstream is in a dire need for energy and downstream is in a dire need for water."
The research, co-authored by Essam Heggy, co-principal investigator at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering Center for Arid and Water Research Exploration (AWARE) within the USC Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, evaluates the efficiency of multiple drought-mitigation policies related to the operations of the Nile's mega-dams.
Most of the Nile River flows originate from the highlands in Ethiopia and flow northward to the lowlands in Egypt and to the Mediterranean. The rising dispute is over what control the dam operators should have over the flowing water during prolonged periods of drought. While Egypt relies on the Nile for water, Ethiopia relies on its newly completed mega-dam, named Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), for hydroelectric power.
Corresponding author Essam Heggy explains the source of tension as follows, "Nile upstream hydropower dams will bring electricity to 60% of the population of Ethiopia while 98 % of Egypt's annual renewable water resources come from the same river; the upstream is in a dire need for energy and downstream is in a dire need for water."
