By Ikal Angelei | International Rivers
Lake Turkana is a miraculous anomaly of life-giving water in a parched and unforgiving land. Formed millions of years ago in the tectonic upheavals that created East Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Turkana is the largest permanent desert lake in the world. Extinct volcanoes enclose the horizon, and the heat is so intense that when the blustery wind from Mount Kulal on the eastern shore temporarily ceases and clouds gather overhead, raindrops sometimes evaporate before they even reach the lake. It is called “ghost rain.”
Areas affected by Gibe III
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This other-worldly scene is bolstered by the world’s largest population of Nile crocodiles which survive on another Nilotic ancestor, the giant perch, which in turn feeds on a profusion of blue-green algae. This prehistoric lake has also long been a focus for humans: its shores have revealed the oldest-known fossil remains of Homo habilis. Today, more than a quarter million residents from at least ten tribes have become masters of wresting sustenance from the harsh landscape. Without the lake, life here would be virtually impossible.
But Lake Turkana and its inhabitants now face an environmental catastrophe – and an avoidable one. The lake could start drying up when its main source, the Omo River, is depleted by a huge dam across the border in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Government is planning a series of upstream dams on the Omo River; the most imminent is the Gibe III hydroelectric dam, already two years into construction.
There is no question that Ethiopia needs power. But the irony of the Gibe III dam is that while it threatens the economy of the Turkana region, a large share of its electricity will be sold to consumers in other parts of Kenya. For Ethiopia, the project is a commercial one: they want to make money selling the power elsewhere, not provide power to their own people. For Kenya, it’s a matter of allowing one part of the country to be devastated so that others may get a little more power.
The assault on the Omo River and Lake Turkana by the Gibe dam is projected to result in a drop of seven to ten meters in the lake’s depth in the first five years alone (the lake has already receded by about five to eight meters because of climate change). Resulting changes in the chemical balance of the water threatens the region’s tremendous biodiversity, including large populations of Nile crocodiles, hippopotamus, and over 40 different species of fish and snakes. The riparian forest, one of the last pristine dryland forests in Africa, would also be in grave danger.
The saga of Gibe III Dam is just the latest episode of human pressures contributing to the dying of Africa’s biggest lakes. Lake Chad has nearly disappeared from diversions that stopped its flow, and Lake Victoria has seen major drops in its water levels from dams that let too much water out. Climate change could add several more to the list of dead or dying lakes and depleted rivers across the continent. Losing our precious water resources will make us less able to adapt to climate change.
Endangered People
Turkana’s indigenous communities are highly dependent on the lake for their food crops, livestock grazing and watering, and fishing. Any impacts to the lake’s ecosystem would disrupt the economy, leading to an increase in conflicts in the area. Considering the unstable state of peace in Northern Kenya, such damage to the local economies would invoke a threat to regional stability.
While a power purchase agreement outlining the terms of electricity sales was reportedly signed between Ethiopia and Kenya in 2006, no bilateral agreements on the use of the Omo-Turkana waterway and the dam’s downstream effects to Kenya are publicly known. The 300,000 people who live around Lake Turkana in Kenya were neither informed of the project’s impacts nor consulted on their priorities. Their situation mirrors that in Ethiopia, where the traditional economy of the Lower Omo Valley supports up to half a million people. The Ethiopian dam-affected people – who, like those on the Kenyan side, are largely indigenous peoples leading traditional lifestyles – have heard little or nothing about the project and their options, even though the changes to the Omo will upset the fragile balance of river bank cultivation and herding they maintain, unraveling the valley’s best strategy against food insecurity. Resulting scarcity could quickly lead to violent conflict in one of the most culturally diverse areas of Africa.
Even if Ethiopia’s affected communities organize to object to the plans, the government is notoriously unsympathetic to citizen concerns. In Ethiopia, civil society activists who might normally help raise awareness about such projects or advocate for affected people have been hesitant to join the fray, given their government’s restrictive policies and repressive tendencies regarding NGOs.
The financial backers of the Gibe III Dam may include the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Italian Government and JP Morgan Chase. While the World Bank has refused to consider project funding, they may still consider financial support through loan guarantees. Agence Francaise de Dévelopement, Germany’s aid agency KFW, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa may support the costly transmission line from the Gibe III Dam to Kenya’s national grid.
While such funders require an Environmental Impact Assessment, the one that has been submitted is incredibly sloppy and hopelessly incomplete. Shockingly it does not even mention that the Omo River supplies almost 80 percent of the Lake Turkana waters. It suggests that the dam will regulate the natural flooding cycle of the Omo River, eliminating the seasonal floods critical to downstream farmers. The truncated, artificial flood suggested in the EIA is ill-designed to achieve its purpose. The minimum, environmental flow is based on the single, lowest monthly flow recorded in the driest month, since 1964. There is no mention of how long it may take to fill Gibe III’s massive reservoir, during which time dam operators may only release 25m3/ sec, creating a prolonged dry season up to several years long. Ironically, while the filling of the reservoir alone could drive Lake Turkana to the brink of ecological collapse, the EIA argues that the dam will help restore Lake Turkana, not deplete it. So far, the project has continued despite the huge deficiencies in this official study, but those concerned about the impacts on Lake Turkana intend to bring their case to these agencies.
The project’s lack of transparency in other areas borders on the corrupt. The US$1.7 billion project is the single largest infrastructural work being undertaken in Ethiopia, yet its lucrative contract was handed to Italian construction giant, Salini, based on a questionable exception to Ethiopia’s own procurement rules. The uncompetitive awarding of the contract also contradicts World Bank and African Development Bank procurement guidelines, The World Bank has declared the project ineligible for project lending, unlike the African Development Bank which plans to consider the project despite the contract violation.
But this case is not just the responsibility of outside agencies and the Ethiopian dam planners. The Kenyan government must first and foremost do more to protect the interests of the peoples of northwest Kenya, and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The power purchase agreement with the Ethiopian government needs to be made public. We need to know if the impact on Lake Turkana was even considered before the power purchase agreement was signed. The ministries of Energy, Water, and Northern Kenya must account for their plans to preserve the environment and livelihoods of the region. The members of parliament representing Northern Kenya need to know what is planned, and have a chance to voice their communities’ concerns. The peoples of Lake Turkana must be heard.
(The author is with Friends of Lake Turkana. [email protected])
24 thoughts on “Ethiopia’s Omo River dam to cause environmental disaster”
This is what happens when a country is hostage to World Bank and IMF money, they decide what the money borrowed will be used for not the recepient country, it is all about making money for the banks not about improving the living standards of the people. Thank God Eritrea told the World Bank and IMF to get lost when they tried to force Eritrea to borrow their money but wanted to impose their conditions on how to use the money. On the other hand Woyanne is the darling of the west because they do what is dictated to them by western financial institutions, westerners know Woyanne is a great servant and good for their bottom line but not good for the people of Ethiopia.
I don’t like many things about TPLF/EPRDF, but doing such kind of construction be it dam or road is appreciable and we must give credit when it is due or if we can’t let’s be silent as far as our country’s interest is kept be it TPLF or Derg. Obviously writer must be Kenyan or else French company agent, cause most kenyan generators and spare parts are from France. It is all about interest and we must keep interest of country though we must not blink our eyes when TPLF is killing innocent citizens. Forsure TPLF will go in coming 20 years but dam will be used by poor people of Ethiopia and as a nation we must think for 100 years. Yes, there is unbelievable corruption in such huge project, but that is not uncommon thing the west too. But damaging enviroment, wait a minute, corcodile tear-forget it. Turkana could be dried but people arround Gibe will got a new lake, what is the matter with that? Elias thanks for news but let’s not make mistake of EPRP.
I always wonder why people like Ikal Angelei criticize Ethiopias development programms when they dont have one as alternatives to show. Constructing dams on ones own river is not new to the world nor is the dying out of lakes. lakes could die for several environmental or intrinsic reasons and the reason is not just one is the Ikal tried to explain. why Ethiopia is blamed when she is developing Gibee III project which is far from Turkana by hundreds of killometers. do we need to get permission from Ikal to get dams constructed on Gibe River?
Hellow There,
Why people wander about lakes and etc, the TPLF has promised to convert Ethiopia in to desert. That is what they are doing nothing new.
The people forget things after couple of days and enjoying talking.
Talkative folk.
This is a politicllay charged accustion than on real envirenometal disaster. Wether under woyane or esle Ethiopia has the right to use its water according to intentional laws.
Elais, you should not be an all out opposition to what is going on in Ethiopia and post this article. That country needs more projects on its water for irrigation, hydropower (domestic or export), etc.
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Tariku, as the article states, the Dam is being built to sell electricity to Kenya, not for use in Ethiopia. Not only that, electric dams should not be built at the cost of destroying the environment. – Elias
these big monster banks are doing business without having any drop of integrity and social responsibility.but what makes me more sad is that most African country governments are being used as an instrument for those monster banks agendas which are against the very livelihood of Africans poor people. Shame on you Nazi Meles!!!!!!
Let us put our country interest first what ever our political view is. We have been limited to exploit our water resource for long. we own nearly 11 river basin which are all trans boundary, this make getting fund for any of the water resource project very difficult. Criticizing the most acceptable one will make the country to underdeveloped the resource for decades to come.
I read the environmental impact assessment which actual done as per the guidelines. This project will not let the Turkana lake to dry. Instead it will create a more controlled flow for the communities downstream, which presently move to another basin for water when the dry season comes. The only significant impact that affect the down stream is the flood farming. This can be solved by developing irrigation scheme for those affected. I have been in “weito” which is another river in south OMO region and saw the impact of controlled flow in that region. It is very important to invest on the infrastructure that will let the water to be controlled in efficient ways.
Most of the project all over the world involving a significant positive socio economical impact have been criticized when they were first planned. This project will proof those who are cynical wrong again. Gibe III will provide the most significant infrastructure the country lakes with the least environmental impact, so lets cross our finger and hope for the best.
I want to remind you that what ever your political view is such kinds of project are so important for the country, thus lets stop echoing other country interest while compromising our own!
Endale
it is so good project. we ethiopians support this project despit our political stance. we are not supposed to ask any permission from kenya. we are building in our land.
I don’t care about TPLF, but I do care about Ethiopia. This article doesn’t have Ethiopia’s interest at heart. Ethiopia has every right to build dams on Omo river and use it to generate electricity, and for irrigation. I condemn the author of the article and the people who are working behind the scenes to stop the dam project.
Dear Elias I have few questions for you 1) what is wrong with selling electricity to kenya or other nations for generating more income to Ethiopia, 2) what is the wrong side of the Ethiopian government for being more accountable to the Ethiopian people and thier interst than to the Kenyan? 3) Did you ever ask the kenyan governemnet for the environmental problems caused as a result of the Turkwel river dam on the kenyan side that use to drain to Turkana? is Ethiopia responsible for that also? 4) Which dam are you talking on Gibe III project? Ethiopia has no dam on either Gibe II or III projects. She generate hydropower from these two stations but no dams in these two sites.
I have visited the Gilgel Gibe I and II projects when I was student. It is really astonishing. Especially Gibe III is something that we badly need. There is no point for any Ethiopian to stand against it. What can we do about our neighbours who always depend on our rivers and do not let us use them. This has to change and we should all stand together as Ethiopians. “Mejemeria Eras”. All our future relies on how well we utilize our rivers. I hope the same big thing will be done on Abay – Nile.
God Bless Ethiopia
Though we all agree on the ugly poletical and human right record of EPRDF, I don’t think it is wise to object the construction of such projects which have huge advantages even after EPRDF leave office. Daming water for hyrdoelectic are by far the most environmetal friendly than other water resources projects.The water will continue flowing to that lake after generating power. The impact is not as serious as it is speculated in the article. It may have the advantage keeping the water in a relativelly cooler area than in the desert lake where it would evaporate even before no one use it. I’m not saying there will not be any environmental impact but there are many remidial measures to minimize the impact. For that matter the areas around the dam will also experiance some sort of environmental consequences. It is a matter of talking appropreiate measures. Otherwise we have every right to use our water. The Ethiopian and Kenyan governments shall work together to find ways to have the impact on society minimized and compensated. Any development has its own environmental cost. “helm teferto…”
Beware of those who don’t like to see any development in Ethiopia. They do whatever they can to disturb our peace with our neighbours. Don’t compromise your national interest just to disgrace weyane.
selam
We have to push for Nile too!!!
I hate when people by the name Ikal tell us what to do. the people are dying, Ethiopian government is ignorant and they are destroying the pristine environment, etc. We are writing it because we are the only one who is friendly with the people and the ecology. At some point she speaks in terms of our environment. “Losing our precious water resources will make us less able to adapt to climate change.” Excuse me? Leave us alone!
I’m not sure where we are heading to. This article may be from someone who don’t want to see any peace and development in Ethiopia (probablly an amche). We don’t want to mix our national interest with our poletical agenda. It is true weyane has ugly poletical and human right record. We condemn it and struggle to change that course. But that shall not take us to the extent of compromising our national interest. This project is one of the projects we badlly needed for our society. I don’t care even if it is constructed even by shabia let alone weyane. Though we don’t like the colonization of our country by Italy, the roads and bridges constructed that time have remained very useful for us (belte leje yesetuten yezo aleqsal).
It is true the project might have short term environmental impact on the desert lake users. But in the long run it will help them to control flooding and water lose through evaporation. Considerable portion of the water would have been evaporated in the desert lake even before they use it. So substantial amount of the water we are daming is the one that could have evaporated otherwise.
The project will benifit both people and both sides shall work together to minimize the impact during operational phase.
selam
Go for Nile
I am mad by the kind of responses written by people who pretend to be concerned Ethiopians. It is clear the dam has no use to improve the conditions of lives for the local people who stand to lose their grazing land. Their ancestral land will be grabbed by the government which will be leased or sold to foreign colonialists to grow food, flower etc to benefit themselves and token bribery to the local colonialists from the ruling tribes in Ethiopia. In few years the famine camera would visit this area, taking pictures of dying cattle and people from starvation, just like those in the north, east and south.
Poeple forget that the only solution is not STOPPING the dam….but slowing down the process of holding the reservoir to reduce the environmental effects for the people down south from the project site(including those in Kenya and in Ethiopia)
I am baffled by the cynical and selfish manner in which Ikal’s timely alarm over an imminnt environmental disaster has been treated by some of you.
I urge you to be informed by reason rather than emotions. In any case, we are living in a global age where what happens in one end of the globe reverberates one the other.
The people who live in this area are basically pastoralists who with their counter-parts on the other side of the border, the Turkana, are probably some of the most marginalised communities in the world today. As we all know, pastoral ecosystems are very delicate. Any little form of distabilisation can cause irreparable damage.
Furthermore, instead of investing in projects that confer direct benefits to the local communities, governments on both sides of the border have tended to exploit the local resources for the larger nation, leaving locals writhing in abject poverty.
Two wrongs do not make a right! And so bringing in here the issue of Turkwell does not help. Ikal is talking about an evil that is unfolding in our own eyes during our time. If we believe in moral cadence, then we should know that posterity will judge us harshly if we continue beat our chests saying “our country” “our sovereignty” “our people” and many other such self-serving adages. Let us not be myopic. Let us listen to our inner soul and work for survival of humanity in its wholeness!
Gashu, you seem to know possibly little around this globe. You mentioned about the Nile. Take note that the Nile water usage agreement was done by the colonialists without getting ideas from the rest of the countries using the water of the Nile. It was wrong and we cannot bank on that argument this time.
You might not be aware that in 2004, there was floods that displaced our neighbours and their livestock down stream of the Omo river and all could be because of these damming of the Omo waters. These are your fellow citizens the Merrile of Ethiopia. AS you dam, you will be restricting the water and release them when you do not need: Now, is that when it is rightly needed by the people leaving down stream? When water is released, what effect will it have to the ecosystem as they pour downstream? Take note we are not against it but who was consulted. If you were consulted, then the Merrile were not consulted.Do not just support it because it might not affect you.
We shall not accept it until proper environmental assessment is done. Take note of that…… Omo water according to me is international waters and we shall need an agreement.
Egyptians for centuries depended on the nile whose source is without doubt east africa. the treaty signed with the british not withstanding, there is no development project that can take place without consent and agreement from at the very least, kenya,uganda,tanzania ….etc.etc and yet the source is lake victoria…
the same applies to river omo and lake turkana. you can not in your right mind justify the construction of a dam that is openly threatening to the livelihoods others, even when they are not ethiopians…if international brotherly concerns meant nothing, then we would have long ago used the waters of lake victoria for irrigation,but wisdom understands that cutting that source, will definately affects lives of millions of human beings-thats the bottom line.
Ethiopia needs to go slow.i hope IMF or whichever arm released the money will rethink its decision because it is likely to cause tension-local or whatever is effective.
I am a somali live in canada.I was watching BBC news they show a topless teenage african girls and topless lady.what i asked myself is that the news people hide the breasts of the white girls at beaches.i am angry. breasts are breasts whether they are black or white. whey they do not respect the innocent black teens,isnt it a crime to publicly show the world the childerns naked bodies. why those black kids are not proctected like the other kids in the world.
about the dam i think ethiopia have to right to delovepe their country and they are doing the best interst of their people.
i know those tribes on omo river region. these people are isolated from the world,they have no clean water, no pipe there, no street. they drink water from the river, those people don’t know onions, tomatoes, vegetables… no clothes some have hat, but inside no beds, no furniture just empty. the government arranges for tourists to see them and get money. it is shameful those poor people are punished by government.
john! says that isn’t true the govermment is trying
to teaches thoese people to wear clothes and
live better life. you are wrong sami.
Most of us aren’t experts in this matter. Here is what I know though. The nile is the river that has the biggest potential for benefiting all of Ethiopia. All these years we have been squabbling against each other instead of focusing on using the Nile. Isn’t this “Ahiyawn tito dawlawn”?
When are we going to face Egypt in this manner instead of doing this dam that could, in the long run, take us to confrontation with Kenyans? Aren’t they our ally towrds fair use of the Nile against Egypt?
And here is another thing. These banks and organizations have been denying loans for construction of dams on the Nile because Egypt has been lobbying hard all these decades. Doesn’t it make sense they’d allow this one to go through just so we would be in conflict with Kenya in the long run?
Again, the main question is why isn’t this dam being built on the Nile???
You have not obviously been to Turkana and seen how people are dependent of that lake. I have, many times. THe lake is also unique in many respects- as the article pinpointed. You are Ethiopian, you think the Ethiopian way. I am not Kenyan, but I am extremely worried about the consequences of building the Gibe III.