Arba Minch University has celebrated 7th anniversary of big-ticket Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) at New Hall, Main Campus on 24th May, 2018. Panel discussion has everyone instinctively expressing their passionate feelings towards this ‘holy grail’ of Ethiopian dignity. Click here to see the pictures.
GERD’s ongoing construction stated to have reached around 65% stage that might take few more years to get completed. This biggest hydro-power giant in Africa, 10th in the world will convincingly rewrite story of new Ethiopia by integrating regions on robust economic lines. This powerhouse will liberate nation from the diabolical grip of underdevelopment, poverty and fast-track national dreams, the experts feel.
University President, Dr Damtew Darza, addressing gathering said, AMU has been proactive in contributing towards the construction of GERD and till date our staff and students have in total contributed ETB 32.64 Million and this commitment will remain unabated. As the victory in battle of Adwa stands for our impregnable unity and valor at this time as well we stand together to provide financial support to GERD. And I hope by buying bond people will continue to show their allegiance towards this noble cause that will change national destiny and individual’s fate.
The GERD construction begun with expected budget pegged at ETB 80 Billion, which has public contribution of ETB 11.58 Billion. However, with people charged with national fervor continue to contribute financially towards the completion of this dam has world in awe of this national pride.
Dr Besha Moges enlightening gathering on new Cooperation Framework Agreement signed in 1991, said has 11 Nile basin nations as its signatories that includes Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Eretria, Sudan and Egypt; South Sudan being a new nation is expected to be its part, while Egypt and Sudan part of it yet hold some reservation towards this framework.
Elucidating further, he said this new framework is democratic, it allows both up and downstream countries to utilize water resources quite reasonably; but according to previous treaty signed between Sudan and Egypt in 1959, upstream nations had to seek permission for any projects.
Later, people entered into an animated discussion on topics like ‘Implication of GERD for Egypt’ and ‘The stand of Egypt on GERD’, which was steered by Dr Damtew Darza and Dr Abdella Kemal. At the end, 35 staff members purchased bonds worth over ETB 125,000; the sale of bonds is expected to continue for two more days; the program was anchored by Corporate Communication Directorate Director, Mr Fissihe Bekele.
It’s learnt that GERD is expected to generate electric power 6000 MW holds strategic advantage to Ethiopia in terms of power, irrigation and political standing. To earn foreign exchange Ethiopia may sell power to neighboring nations and by meeting domestic demands it will help reduce deforestation, siltation, floods and water loss can be prevented due to less evapotranspiration.
According to sources, this dam in particular can help stop silting that is causing considerable problems in Egypt and Sudan’s dams by rehabilitating natural environment of the upper Nile Basin. The silt from Blue Nile is building up in Egypt’s Aswan dam and in a couple of smaller dams in Sudan; if run-off is not controlled by GERD, the silting will cripple all these dams. The amount of the debris deposited by Nile in Sudan and Egypt is estimated at 110 million tons annually.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)