South Sudan Dam Approved After Review Finds Limited Nile Impact

Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam said the planned Grand Fula Dam in South Sudan had received approval after technical studies concluded that its impact on the Nile would be very limited and manageable.

The project was reviewed through the Nile Basin Initiative, with South Sudan submitting designs and technical studies for assessment before approval. Sewilam said the process reflected support for development projects in upstream countries when they are preceded by consultation, information exchange and technical review.

The Grand Fula Dam is among 36 projects submitted by southern Nile Basin states under the initiative’s investment programme. The wider package includes hydropower, electricity interconnection, water supply and multipurpose projects, with reviews concluding that their anticipated effects were limited and manageable.

“We are not afraid of dams, but there are international rules governing how such projects must be handled, including the submission and thorough review of studies,” Sewilam said. He contrasted the South Sudan process with the dispute over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which has proceeded without a binding operating and data-sharing agreement between the three countries.

Sewilam said the GERD’s filling and subsequent operation had caused harm in Sudan, including disruptions to water flows and unpredictable releases, while reiterating that any renewed negotiations would need to comply with international law and follow a defined timetable.