Professor of Geology and Water resources at Cairo University Abbas Sharaqi, has revealed a forced increase in water discharge from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s (GERD) reservoir due to continued rainfall and the complete shutdown of all its turbines.
He noted that the Nile River in Khartoum has continued to rise starting from September 24, reaching a new high for the year at 16.64 meters, surpassing the flood level of 16.50 meters.
Sharaqi added on his Facebook account that the record high, recorded on September 6, 2020, was 17.66 meters, a result of a heightened discharge from the GERD of approximately 635 million cubic meters—an increase of more than 200 million cubic meters over the current rainfall rate.
He stated that Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has warned citizens living on the banks of the Blue Nile, from Al-Roseires to Khartoum, and on the banks of the Nile River from Khartoum to Meroe, that water levels are rising due to increased inflows in the Blue Nile.
What is happening at the GERD indicates that management is floundering, he warned.
He attributed this to the reservoir being at full capacity since last September, the inefficient year-round operation of the turbines, and the failure to gradually release water through the spillway gates before the flood season to avoid exposing the turbines’ lack of operation.
This resulted in the dam having to receive the new flood while its reservoir was already full.
It therefore became necessary to open four gates of the upper spillway in addition to using the central corridor spillway, which will soon cease as the discharge from the reservoir’s reserves increases.
He clarified that the Aswan High Dam is fully prepared to receive this water along with the waters of the White Nile.
Lake Nasser is also recording a gradual daily increase in its water level despite the high water usage during the peak-demand season, which is nearing its end.
