Facing drought, Egypt reaches out to Sudan, Ethiopia
Monday, August 3, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
CAIRO Ñ Egypt is reviewing its regional water strategy during a severe drought.
Officials said the regime of President Hosni Mubarak has intensified efforts to prepare for a major water shortage in Egypt and the surrounding region. They said the Cabinet has discussed Egypt's water policy and coordination with Ethiopia and Sudan, all of which share the Nile River.
Egypt has opposed regional efforts, particularly by Ethiopia, to redivide the Nile waters. In July 2009, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said it would not abide by any agreement that would affect Egypt's allocation of 55 billion cubic meters of water per year.
"We are calm and there is no tension," Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said during a Cabinet session on July 27.
Officials said Egypt has recruited Sudan's support for Cairo's position on the sharing of the waters of the Nile. They said Cairo has also been working with Ethiopia on research projects to conserve the Nile and link electricity grids in cooperation with Sudan.
At the same time, Egypt was said to have warned Ethiopia and Sudan against revising any regional agreement on the Nile. Officials said Egypt would adhere to the division of the Nile set more than 30 years ago.
"Egypt's position on water-related issues is consistent," Egyptian Water Resources Minister Mohammed Nasser Alam said.
But officials acknowledged that the Cabinet has been examining scenarios in which Ethiopia would unilaterally violate the Nile water-sharing agreement. They said the World Bank has been encouraging the members of the Nile Basin Initiative to cooperation in regional development efforts, including the preservation of Egypt's High Dam Lake.
"A single signature may torpedo current and future projects," an official said.