Latest news with #megadam
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethiopian official denies Donald Trump's claim that US funded River Nile dam
An Ethiopian official has denied Donald Trump's claim that the United States helped fund Ethiopia's new megadam on the River Nile, saying it is false and "destructive". Last week, President Trump said the controversial dam was built "with United States money, largely". Officially known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), the project is Africa's biggest hydro-electric plant and a major source of pride for Ethiopians. Over the 14 years it has taken to complete Gerd, the Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly said that the dam was funded by the government, along with contributions from the Ethiopian people. The dam has, however, angered Egypt and Sudan, which lie upstream on the River Nile and fear the dam could lead to less water flowing into their countries. The BBC has asked the White House to expand on Trump's comments. On Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the Gerd Coordination Office, dismissed Trump's remarks, saying the dam was built "without any foreign aid". Why is Egypt worried about Ethiopia's dam on the Nile? How Ethiopia was 'betrayed' over Nile dam Ethiopia's pop stars weigh in on Gerd row Although technically an independent body, the Gerd Coordination Office was set up by the government to mobilise resources for the dam. "Regarding what Donald Trump claimed, the government should respond with far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures," Ms Fikrte said. Following Ms Fikrte's comments, some Ethiopians have questioned how privy the Gerd Coordination Office would be to any potential deal between the government and the US, given its independent status. Ethiopia's government has not responded to Trump's comments about funding the dam, which began generating electricity in 2022 and was fully completed earlier this month. It is not the first time Trump has claimed US involvement in Gerd. Last month, in a post on his Truth Social online platform, the president said the dam was "stupidly financed by the United States of America" and "substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River". Trump was referring to concerns from Egypt and Sudan that the megadam would disrupt the flow of water they get from the River Nile. More than a mile long and 145m high, Gerd lies on the Blue Nile in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the River Nile's waters flow. Ethiopia wants the dam to produce desperately needed electricity, as the majority of its population - about 60% - have no supply. But the construction of Gerd has led to tensions with Egypt - an ally of the Trump administration - and Sudan. Initially scheduled to be completed within six years with a $4bn (£2.9bn) budget, Gerd generated excitement among the Ethiopian public. The authorities capitalised on this interest to raise money for the dam - bonds were sold to companies, employees pledged deductions from their salaries and Ethiopia's huge diaspora sent in donations. Despite the project running significantly behind schedule, and consequently overbudget, it has continued to draw contributions. Since 1 April this year, 1.7 billion birr ($12.3 million; £9.1 million) have been collected from the public, the Gerd Coordination Office says. You may also be interested in: Dam plan busted? World's biggest hydropower project in the balance The spectacular failures and successes of massive dams Who benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ethiopian official denies Donald Trump's claim that US funded Gerd - the River Nile dam
An Ethiopian official has denied Donald Trump's claim that the United States helped fund Ethiopia's new megadam on the River Nile, saying it is false and "destructive". Last week, President Trump said the controversial dam was built "with United States money, largely".Officially known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), the project is Africa's biggest hydro-electric plant and a major source of pride for the 14 years it has taken to complete Gerd, the Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly said that the dam was funded by the government, along with contributions from the Ethiopian people. The dam has, however, angered Egypt and Sudan, which lie upstream on the River Nile and fear the dam could lead to less water flowing into their BBC has asked the White House to expand on Trump's Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the Gerd Coordination Office, dismissed Trump's remarks, saying the dam was built "without any foreign aid".Why is Egypt worried about Ethiopia's dam on the Nile?How Ethiopia was 'betrayed' over Nile damEthiopia's pop stars weigh in on Gerd rowAlthough technically an independent body, the Gerd Coordination Office was set up by the government to mobilise resources for the dam."Regarding what Donald Trump claimed, the government should respond with far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures," Ms Fikrte Ms Fikrte's comments, some Ethiopians have questioned how privy the Gerd Coordination Office would be to any potential deal between the government and the US, given its independent government has not responded to Trump's comments about funding the dam, which began generating electricity in 2022 and was fully completed earlier this is not the first time Trump has claimed US involvement in Gerd. Last month, in a post on his Truth Social online platform, the president said the dam was "stupidly financed by the United States of America" and "substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River".Trump was referring to concerns from Egypt and Sudan that the megadam would disrupt the flow of water they get from the River than a mile long and 145m high, Gerd lies on the Blue Nile in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the River Nile's waters wants the dam to produce desperately needed electricity, as the majority of its population - about 60% - have no the construction of Gerd has led to tensions with Egypt - an ally of the Trump administration - and scheduled to be completed within six years with a $4bn (£2.9bn) budget, Gerd generated excitement among the Ethiopian public. The authorities capitalised on this interest to raise money for the dam - bonds were sold to companies, employees pledged deductions from their salaries and Ethiopia's huge diaspora sent in the project running significantly behind schedule, and consequently overbudget, it has continued to draw 1 April this year, 1.7 billion birr ($12.3 million; £9.1 million) have been collected from the public, the Gerd Coordination Office says. You may also be interested in: Dam plan busted? World's biggest hydropower project in the balanceThe spectacular failures and successes of massive damsWho benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China is building the world's biggest hydropower dam. Why is India worried?
On the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau, China envisions a future powered by the roaring waters of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra). The river will be the site of a mega dam – the world's most ambitious to date – that promises to bring clean energy, jobs, infrastructure and prosperity to the region. Construction on the world's largest hydropower dam began on Saturday, according to Premier Li Qiang , who called it the 'project of the century'. But the project is not just about electricity and economic benefits – the stakes are far higher. Regional security, ecological stability and the future of one of Asia's great rivers all hang in the balance. How big is the mega dam? The dam will be situated in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo, where a section drops 2,000 metres (6,562 feet) over a 50km (31 miles) stretch, creating immense hydropower potential. The dam is reportedly located in Medog, a remote county in Nyingchi city in the Tibet autonomous region When completed, the project will overtake the Three Gorges Dam as the world's largest hydropower dam. It could generate three times more energy with five cascade hydropower stations – an estimated annual capacity of 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, more than Britain's total annual power output. It is estimated to cost around 1.2 trillion yuan (US$167 billion), dwarfing many of the biggest infrastructure undertakings in modern history at around five times the cost of the Three Gorges Dam and even more expensive than the International Space Station. China's new dam project in Tibet will overtake the Three Gorges Dam, shown here, as the world's largest hydropower dam. Photo: Xinhua Why is it important? The project was first announced in 2020 under China's five-year plan as part of a broader strategy to exploit the hydropower potential of the Tibetan plateau, with feasibility studies dating back to the 1980s. Beijing authorised the dam's construction in December 2024.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
China starts building world's biggest hydropower dam
Construction of the world's biggest hydropower megadam has begun, China's premier has said, calling it the 'project of the century'. The huge structure is being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, in Tibetan territory. Li Qiang made the comments on Saturday, at a ceremony in the region to mark the start of the build, leading Chinese markets to rise on the expectation of the long-planned megaproject, first announced in 2020 as part of China's 14th five-year plan. The dam has drawn criticism from India and Bangladesh, through which the river runs, as well as Tibetan groups and environmentalists. The project announced by Li is planned for the lower reaches of the river, according to the official state news outlet, Xinhua. Xinhua reported that the project would consist of five cascade hydropower stations, producing an estimated 300 million megawatt hours of electricity annually at a cost of about 1.2tn yuan (£124bn). In comparison, the Three Gorges dam cost 254.2bn yuan and generates 88.2m MWh. No further details were given about timing or scope of construction, but the figures reported by Xinhua exceed estimates from 2020. China, the world's biggest carbon emitter, is operating a huge renewable energy expansion as it seeks to reach emissions reduction goals and stabilise its power supply. It has tens of thousands of hydropower projects, far more than any other country. The Yarlung Tsangpo megadam will reportedly harness the power created by the river dropping 2km in about 50km as it winds through a canyon on a U-shaped bend. India and Bangladesh have voiced concerns over the project, fearing the water could be held or diverted away from them. The Yarlung Tsangpo becomes the Brahmaputra river as it flows south into India's Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states and finally into Bangladesh as the Jamuna river. Damming it could affect millions of people downstream. 'China can always weaponise this water in terms of blocking it or diverting it,' Neeraj Singh Manhas, special adviser for South Asia at the Parley Policy Initiative, told the BBC in January. The Indian government formally registered its concerns with Beijing over the project in December, and during bilateral meetings between the two countries' foreign ministers in January. In response, officials have said China does not seek 'water hegemony' and never pursues 'benefits for itself at the expense of its neighbours'. 'China will continue to maintain current exchange channels with downstream nations and step up cooperation on disaster prevention and mitigation,' a foreign ministry spokesperson said in December. Tibetan groups have also noted the presence of sacred sites along the river, and the lack of information about potential population displacement. Other hydropower projects in Tibet have inspired rare protests, resulting in brutal crackdowns from authorities, according to activists. Last year hundreds of people were arrested while protesting against the Kamtok dam on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river, which they said threatened to displace thousands of residents and submerge ancient Buddhist monasteries. The Three Gorges Dam is estimated to have displaced about 1.5 million people. Environmentalists have also expressed concern about wildlife in the region, as well as the significant tectonic shifting, severe landslides and extreme geography where the dam is expected to go. The Chinese government rejects the criticism, and says the project will stimulate jobs in the region, increase domestic energy supplies and spur on development in the renewables sector. 'Special emphasis must be placed on ecological conservation to prevent environmental damage,' Li said.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
China starts building world's biggest hydropower dam
Construction of the world's biggest hydropower megadam has begun, China's premier has said, calling it the 'project of the century'. The huge structure is being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, in Tibetan territory. Li Qiang made the comments on Saturday, at a ceremony in the region to mark the start of the build, leading Chinese markets to rise on the expectation of the long-planned megaproject, first announced in 2020 as part of China's 14th five-year plan. The dam has drawn criticism from India and Bangladesh, through which the river runs, as well as Tibetan groups and environmentalists. The project announced by Li is planned for the lower reaches of the river, according to the official state news outlet, Xinhua. Xinhua also reported the project will consist of five cascade hydropower stations, producing an estimated 300bn kilowatt hours of electricity annually at a cost of about 1.2tn yuan (£124bn). In comparison, the Three Gorges dam cost 254.2bn yuan and generates 88.2bn kWh. No further details were given about timing or scope of construction, but the figures reported by Xinhua exceed estimates from 2020. China, the world's biggest carbon emitter, is also operating a huge renewable energy expansion as it seeks to reach emissions reductions goals and stabilise its power supply. It has tens of thousands of hydropower projects, far more than any other country. The Yarlung Tsangpo megadam will reportedly harness the power created by the river dropping 2km in about 50km as it winds through a canyon on a U-shaped bend. India and Bangladesh have voiced concerns over the project, fearing the water could be held or diverted away from them. The Yarlung Tsangpo becomes the Brahmaputra river as it flows south into India's Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states and finally into Bangladesh as the Jamuna river, and damming it could affect millions of people downstream. 'China can always weaponise this water in terms of blocking it or diverting it,' Neeraj Singh Manhas, special adviser for South Asia at the Parley Policy Initiative, told the BBC in January. In December the Indian government formally registered its concerns with Beijing over the project, and during bilateral meetings between the two countries' foreign ministers in January. In response, officials have said China doesn't seek 'water hegemony' and never pursues 'benefits for itself at the expense of its neighbours'. 'China will continue to maintain current exchange channels with downstream nations and step up cooperation on disaster prevention and mitigation,' a foreign ministry spokesperson said in December. Tibetan groups have also noted the presence of sacred sites along the river, and the lack of information about potential population displacement. Other hydropower projects in Tibet have inspired rare protests, resulting in brutal crackdowns from authorities, according to activists. Last year hundreds of people were arrested while protesting against the Kamtok dam on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river, which they said threatened to displace thousands of residents and submerge ancient Buddhist monasteries. The Three Gorges Dam is estimated to have displaced about 1.5 million people. Environmentalists have also expressed concern about wildlife in the region, as well as the significant tectonic shifting, severe landslides, and extreme geography where the dam is expected to go. The Chinese government rejects the criticism, and says the project will stimulate jobs in the region, increase domestic energy supplies, and spur on development in the renewables sector. 'Special emphasis must be placed on ecological conservation to prevent environmental damage,' Li said.
