The National Minister of Water resources, Paul Mayom Akech, said that Egyptian authorities lobbied the Chinese government to withhold funding of South Sudan Fula Dam project construction.
“We have learned that Egypt secretly told the Chinese authorities last year, warning China to stop releasing funds for the construction of the Fula Dam project, but the report is not yet officially confirmed,” Mayom added.
The Minister called on the Egyptian authorities to cooperate in a diplomatic manner with the South Sudanese authorities to amicably sort out any differences. Speaking at the regular media briefing at the Information’s Ministry on Tuesday, Mayom asked Egypt to reconsider and acquaint itself with the Nile Basin Initiative’s conditions-and-terms to create friendly co-existence with its counter- parts.
The Minister said, “Investment in hydro power is very important to all member states of Nile Basin. We all need hydro power, and we all need to preserve our environment and the use of hydro power and save the environment by abolishing deforestation.”
The Minister went on to say, “The construction of the Dam, which it is said to be about 42 megawatts, will continue because it will have no any negative impacts on upstream countries, particularly Egypt.” Egypt has a very vested interest in Nile Basin (Fula Dam project) cooperation since its entire economy depends on Nile Water.
This project is supported by both Norwegian and Chinese governments but effort to contact their Embassies in Juba, including the Egyptian Embassy, to comment on the matter was unsuccessful. It is important to understand that hydro power replaces use of charcoals and firewood that will further foster economic growth through the supplementary irrigation system.
Recently, the Minister of Energy and Dams, David Deng Athorbei, paid a visit to China to discuss with Beijing authorities the commencing of the Fula Dam construction, but the feedback was not yet made public until after his return last week.
The National Minister of Water resources, Paul Mayom Akech, said that Egyptian authorities lobbied the Chinese government to withhold funding of South Sudan Fula Dam project construction.
“We have learned that Egypt secretly told the Chinese authorities last year, warning China to stop releasing funds for the construction of the Fula Dam project, but the report is not yet officially confirmed,” Mayom added.
The Minister called on the Egyptian authorities to cooperate in a diplomatic manner with the South Sudanese authorities to amicably sort out any differences. Speaking at the regular media briefing at the Information’s Ministry on Tuesday, Mayom asked Egypt to reconsider and acquaint itself with the Nile Basin Initiative’s conditions-and-terms to create friendly co-existence with its counter- parts.
The Minister said, “Investment in hydro power is very important to all member states of Nile Basin. We all need hydro power, and we all need to preserve our environment and the use of hydro power and save the environment by abolishing deforestation.”
The Minister went on to say, “The construction of the Dam, which it is said to be about 42 megawatts, will continue because it will have no any negative impacts on upstream countries, particularly Egypt.” Egypt has a very vested interest in Nile Basin (Fula Dam project) cooperation since its entire economy depends on Nile Water.
This project is supported by both Norwegian and Chinese governments but effort to contact their Embassies in Juba, including the Egyptian Embassy, to comment on the matter was unsuccessful. It is important to understand that hydro power replaces use of charcoals and firewood that will further foster economic growth through the supplementary irrigation system.
Recently, the Minister of Energy and Dams, David Deng Athorbei, paid a visit to China to discuss with Beijing authorities the commencing of the Fula Dam construction, but the feedback was not yet made public until after his return last week.