Why Ethiopia’s Mega-Dam Has Its Neighbors Fuming

Ethiopia has been at loggerheads with downstream neighbors Egypt and Sudan for years over a $4.8 billion mega-dam it’s building on the Nile River. Tensions ratcheted up in early July when Ethiopia resumed filling a 74 billion cubic-meter (2.6 trillion cubic-foot) reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The three nations hadn’t yet agreed on a timetable. Egypt described the unilateral action as a violation of international law and took its case to the United Nations Security Council.

The Nile is the most important source of fresh water in a largely arid region that is very vulnerable to drought and climate change and is experiencing rapid population growth. Egypt relies on the 4,000-mile-long river for as much as 97% of its supply, much of eastern Sudan’s population depends on it for survival, and Ethiopia is counting on a 6,000-megawatt hydropower plant on its new dam to boost the nation’s electricity supply by 150% and sustain its manufacturing industry.