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5 May 2020 KAMPALA

Lake Victoria Surge Jeopardises Regional Hydropower Capacity

In Uganda, Lake Victoria’s water levels have surged to their highest level in more than half a century posing a threat to the country’s hydropower plants. “The increased water level is causing dislodgement of papyrus mats … resulting into huge mass of floating islands, which are dangerous to hydropower infrastructure,” Sam Cheptoris, Uganda's water and environment minister said.

12 Feb 2020 KAMPALA

Massive New Hydro Project In Uganda?

A Chinese firm has applied to Ugandan authorities for a licence to develop a $1.4 billion hydropower plant that could potentially expand the country’s generation capacity by 40% according to a regulatory official and papers seen by Reuters. The firm, PowerChina International Group Limited (PIGL), wants to develop the Ayago Hydroelectric Power Station, located on a section of River Nile between the lakes Kyoga and Albert, according to its licence application seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

11 Dec 2019 NAIROBI, Kenya

Nile Basin Initiative HydroMet System Will Improve Water Resources Planning In Member States

Member States of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) will share reliable data for better monitoring of the Nile’s water resources under the $5.5 Million USD Nile Basin Regional HydroMet System to inform national planning and evidence-based decision making. The project will be implemented in Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda...

28 Jul 2019 DODOMA, Tanzania

Environmentalist Fury Over Massive Tanzania Hydro Project

Tanzania President John Magufuli laid the foundation stone for the Rufiji Hydropower Project (RHPP) at Stiegler’s Gorge July 26, reigniting protests by nature conservationists. RHPP is in the Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO Heritage Site since 1982, the country’s largest wildlife area and home to significant populations of elephants and black rhinocerous, as well as cheetahs and giraffes...

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28 Mar 2019 KAMPALA

Uganda Accelerates Nyagak Dam Project

The government of Uganda has tasked Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) to speed up preparation activities to pave way for construction works of the Nyagak Mini-hydro Power Dam in West Nile. “This project is key to us and the government is ready to avail funds for construction works to begin” said State Minister for Energy Simon D’Ujanga while officiating the revival of the project plans.

28 Jun 2017 KAMPALA, Uganda

No Deal as Nile Summit Underwhelms

Last week’s summit of Nile Basin countries did not live up to its billing. Only two heads of state bothered to make the journey to the June 20-22 event in Kampala, Uganda to resolve differences around the contentious 2010 Entebbe Agreement which purports to regulate water-sharing among the river’s riparian nations...

27 Apr 2017 CAIRO

Egypt to Rejoin Nile Basin Initiative?

After seven years during which Egypt froze its membership in the Nile Basin Initiative in objection to the Entebbe Agreement — which does not recognize Egypt’s historical annual water quota from the Nile River and gives upstream countries the right to build dams without any prior notice — the Egyptian team handling the Nile water issue at the Foreign Ministry and Water Resources Ministry embarked on a round of negotiations that started with an extraordinary ministerial meeting in Uganda on March 29 and aimed to find a formula of understanding that satisfies all parties and paves the way for Egypt's return to the Nile Basin Initiative, reports Al-Monitor...

23 Aug 2016 CAIRO, Egypt

Al Sisi Stresses Importance of Fostering Relations With Nile Basin Countries

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi emphasized the importance of fostering relations with fellow Nile Basin countries during a call with Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Mohamed Abdel Atty on August 20th.Al Sisi also stressed the need to support other riparians’ needs at the local and official levels...

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5 Aug 2016 ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Egypt Seeks Reinstatement in Nile Basin Initiative: Ethiopian Official

Egypt has requested reinstatement of its membership in the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), which it suspended in 2010, Ethiopian Water, Irrigation and Energy Ato Motuma Mekassa said this week.The Ethiopian News Agency quoted Mekassa as saying Egypt had submitted the request during the 24th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Nile Basin Initiative, held in Uganda last month...

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12 Apr 2016 CAIRO, Egypt

Egypt Hopes for “Full Cooperation” With Other Nile Basin Countries: Abdel Atty

Egypt is aiming for “full cooperation” with other Nile Basin countries, and is seeking solutions to resolve issues related to Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam project, according to the country’s new minister of water resources and irrigation, Mohamed Abdel Atty.“The political leadership in Egypt is convinced that full cooperation with all Nile Basin countries will benefit everyone...

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10 Feb 2016 KHARTOUM, Sudan

Irrigation Ministers From Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan Discuss Contract for Dam Studies

Irrigation ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan held talks in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on February 10th to look over the technical offers submitted by French consultancies BRL Group and Artelia to carry out studies on the impacts of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam.The ministers’ meeting comes a day after the Tripartite National Committee, comprising experts from all three countries, wrapped up three days of talks in Khartoum, during which they finalized their report on the consultants’ offers...

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17 Dec 2015 CAIRO, Egypt

Sudanese Foreign Minister Says Grand Renaissance Dam Agreement Possible This Month

An agreement among Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on Ethiopia’s contentious Grand Renaissance Dam project could be reached during talks later this month, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said this week."I cannot tell whether I am optimistic or pessimistic. All that I believe is that we can reach an agreement in the upcoming round of talks” on December 27-28th, Ghandour told official Egyptian news agency MENA...

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