How they cling up Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan.

Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to select consultancy firm

October 21, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed to choose an international firm that will study the hydrological and socio-environmental impacts of Ethiopia’s massive hydro power plant project being built on the Nile river.

Delegates attending the Nile Basin Development Forum in Nairobi, Kenya on 6 October 2014 (Photo courtesy the NBDF)

Following the ongoing tripartite meeting in Cairo, the three countries have nominated seven international consultancy firms from Germany, Australia, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The seven firms are reportedly due in Cairo to meet the three countries’ representatives.

The tripartite technical committee is scheduled to hold its next round of talks in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum on 4 December while selecting a firm will take place on 16 December in Addis Ababa.

The 4.3 billion dollar power plant has become a source of dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt as the latter fears that the massive dam with 74 billion cubic metre reservoir will reduce its water levels.

Cairo says Nile river is the only water source for its over 90 million people and insists its historic water agreement, which give it enough water resources, are maintained.

However, other upper riparian countries led by Ethiopia, which is the source of 85% of the water resource are joined to reverse the colonial era treaty, demanding a fair and equitable share.

The neutral international consultancy firm to be hired is believed to narrow existing differences between the three countries by professionally helping over the studies to be executed by the 12 tripartite experts Committee withdrawn four from each country.

By doing so the firm is expected to avoid any further dispute and would build trust and confidence among the three countries.

Addis Ababa says the hydro power plant project being built in Nile River near Sudanese border has no significant impact on lower riparian countries of Sudan and Egypt. Ethiopian officials say the dam project should not be a source confrontation rather be a means of development cooperation and economic partnership.

Despite what the outcome of the tripartite talks turns out to be, Ethiopia insists nothing would stop the country from pushing forward the construction of the dam.

Last month, the three water Ministers of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan who met in Addis Ababa for talks over the dam visited the controversial power plant project.

Upon completion, the dam, which would be Africa’s largest, will have capacity of generating 6,000 megawatts of electricity, making the country a major regional power hub and further enabling it to sell electricity to more countries including to Egypt.

Ethiopia currently exports hydro power processed electricity to Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti.

(ST)

Darfur oil why, stop the war first!

Oil in Darfur Waiting to Be Explored - Expert

El Fasher — The Darfur region has a great potential for oil exploration, estimated at between five to fifteen billion barrels, as long as the rebel movements take a unified position over the issue of oil, and local communities affected by exploration activities are either preserved or compensated fairly, a petroleum expert said.
Dr Hussein Adam El Haj, expert in the field of petroleum and energy and executive director of the energy commission of the African Union, confirmed this to Radio Dabanga. He said in an interview with Radio Dabanga to be broadcasted today (Friday) that there are large quantities of oil in various areas in Darfur. Based on his research, he estimated the total oil reserves potential in Darfur at between five billion to fifteen billion barrels, with an average of ten billion barrels in all of the five basins in the region.
The petroleum expert said that Darfur is located in the petroleum basins belt of North Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, and the basins of Milot, which it shares with the Abu Jabra regions of Kordofan and South Sudan.

Great potential

He pointed out that there are six blocks for oil exploration in Darfur now under contract or consideration by the investors. "There is a great potential for oil and huge gas reserves in Darfur and Chad, but neither the Sudanese nor the Chadian governments have any idea about their locations or quantities," El Haj said. "Only the United States, in particular the Chevron corporation, possess the drilling and exploration technology."
Last month, the North Darfur Governor, Osman Kibir, announced that the Nikheila oil field in the north-eastern part of the state has been linked to the main pipelines in Sudan. The Sudanese Minister of Petrol, Mohamed Awad Makawi, announced last week that the Sufian oil field in East Darfur will start production soon. Oil production at East Darfur's Zurga Um Hadida will be expanded.

Unified rebels

Regarding what should be done after making sure of the abundance of the large quantities of oil in Darfur, Dr Hussein Adam El Haj explained that there are several requirements before they can be explored. "First, it is necessary that the rebel movements in Darfur have a unified position over the issue of oil, which in turn requires a solution to the issue of sharing oil wealth, in a way similar to that of the comprehensive peace agreement with South Sudan.
"Also, before reaching a final peace agreement in Darfur, the terms of wealth sharing, exploration activities, and development in the region, should be negotiated, in order to preserve the rights of local communities in their lands." Dr El Haj stressed the need for an oil and mineral resources commission to oversee the implementation of this agreement as well as the representation of the inhabitants of Darfur. The local communities which are affected by the oil exploration and drilling should be provided with a fair compensation and decent resettlement, the expert recommended.
Finally, all oil companies should address the environmental risks. "There is a need for accountability, transparency, and good governance in the context of all oil operations in Darfur."