Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity hosted a virtual meeting to address top officials of 45 universities to create consensus among them on raging issues surrounding Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s realization. Click here to see the pictures
The meeting began with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs , Mr Demeke Mekonnen, exhorted intellectuals to engage in potential research involving facts about GERD to counter all fictitious diplomatic shenanigans perpetrated by Egypt and Sudan. He said it’s time to ramp up efforts to bolster public diplomacy in creating factual understanding in Ethiopia and for global political actors and media so that fabricated diplomatic cloud covering actual reality of GERD will convincingly be exposed.
Thereafter, cabinet Minister, Dr Sileshi Bekele, giving lowdown on GERD, said, that Ethiopia contributes 77 billion cubic meters (86%) water to Nile River while Egypt and Sudan’s share is 55.5 and 18.5 BCMs and 10 BCM annually gets evaporated. He said, Ethiopia is a landlocked nation with less alternate water resources wherein Egypt possesses huge Red Sea and Mediterranean coastlines of 1,500 and 1,050 km respectively and Sudan 700 km coastline.
He further adds that GERD is an embodiment of economic renaissance for us as it will refurbish nation’s economy and usher in robust socio-political stability in the region. Hence, it’s imperative for scholars to get strongly involve in research on GERD to generate factual data repertoire; it will enable our intelligencia to disarm Egyptian and Sudan’s falsehood and vicious attack against Ethiopia in every sphere of life.
He reminded the gathering that Ethiopia is confronted with burgeoning population and poverty, where 21% of our population is living below poverty level, 60 million off the national grid and 26 million have no access to clean water, so we have huge tasks cut out for us.
On financial provision, he said, till date, GERD has consumed ETB 78.3 Billion ($ 4.5 Billion) and actual cost may go up to ETB 180 Billion as construction gets inordinately delayed. Of overall 80.2% completed works includes 91.2% of civil, 52.7% electromechanical, 53.6% HSS and 100% transmission works. Citing major milestones, he said, 2nd impounding dam configuration is expected to be finished by July 2021 wherein power generation testing may begin in August 2021; 3rd and 4th units are to be wrapped up by mid 2022 and last unit is expected to be completed by August 2023.
On the occasion, Bahir Dar University’s alumni has created software wherein all sorts of public debates, data, research findings, reports, reviews, etc, can be parked for the benefits of policy makers, intellectuals and academia.
AMU President, Dr Damtew Darza in his remarks said, AMU is actively participating in generating funds, engaging in research, strengthening public diplomacy efforts and he also called upon scholars to get engaged in GERD-centric research to ramp up ongoing government’s endeavors in all spheres.
The virtual meeting was attended by 45 Universities’ Council, Advisory Board’s members, invited scholars, students unions, peace forum members and 78 AMU members were in attendance.
(Communication Affairs Directorate)