Spanning 11 countries in East Africa, the Nile river is a critical source of water, energy, and economic sustenance. However, conflicts over its resources have historically hindered cooperative development efforts.
The research, published in Nature Water, diverges from traditional water-only negotiations by incorporating energy considerations into the management of water resources. It employs a sophisticated simulation of the energy-water system to explore how international energy trading could alleviate tensions surrounding Nile water usage.
Dr. Mikiyas Etichia from The University of Manchester, lead author of the study, explains, "Traditionally, water disputes in transboundary river basins like the Nile have been approached through a water-centric viewpoint. However, sharing benefits of water resources, such as hydro-generated electricity, crops and fisheries can result in a win-win situation."
Dr. Mohammed Basheer, co-author and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, notes that energy-river basin benefit-sharing projects have been implemented in the past at a small scale, but detailed tools like the one presented in the paper can help create actionable large-scale proposals.
Central to the conflict is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which, despite its potential to enhance Ethiopia's energy exports and regional electricity availability, has caused friction with Sudan and Egypt over water access.
The study's simulations, which cover 13 East African nations including Nile Basin countries, suggest that increased electricity trading could simultaneously mitigate water shortages, enhance hydropower production, minimize energy waste, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Professor Julien Harou, corresponding author, stresses the importance of the study's multi-sectoral simulation tools in understanding the complex interrelationships within large-scale resource systems.
"The energy trades tested in this study provide the countries a range of solutions that are likely in their national interest. The study highlights the value of detailed multisector simulation to unpick the complex interdependencies of large multi-country resource systems. Implementation of the arrangements proposed here would need to be further assessed from governance and legal perspectives to become viable proposals. If successful, they could contribute to sustainable resource management and regional stability. We are hopeful the new analytical tools or their results will be taken up by the negotiating parties."
Research Report:Energy trade tempers Nile water conflict
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