Ethiopian Dam’s Fifth Filling Raises Concerns About Climate Impact on Nile River

Hishham El-Askary, a professor of remote sensing in Earth systems, has raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of the fifth filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on climate phenomena. El-Askary emphasizes that Egypt and Sudan cannot be isolated from the effects of the dam’s filling, particularly given Egypt’s reliance on the Nile River for over 90% of its water needs. He criticizes Ethiopia’s decision to proceed with the fifth filling without consent from downstream countries, stating that Egypt has a right to protect its water resources. El-Askary warns that the GERD’s filling alters the Nile’s hydrological cycle, potentially leading to significant changes in evaporation rates in the region. These changes, he argues, have uncalculated long-term consequences, especially given the lack of operational turbines for power generation. He questions the rationale behind storing such a massive volume of water without utilizing it for electricity production, suggesting potential negative implications for the future of the Nile and the dam’s safety.