Complexity Analysis of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

PPMP20014: 4th Discussion Forum
Name of University
ID & name of Student
Date:

PPMP20014: 4th Discussion Forum Page 2 of 4
Discussion
The Government of Ethiopia has initiated the construction of the largest dam in Africa on the
river Blue Nile in 2011 (Cooper, Islam, & Susskind, 2015); it is the Grand Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam (GERD). It is built on the upstream side of the Blue Nile river flowing
through Ethiopia, Sudan and finally reaching to Egypt. This dam is constructed with a height
of 145 metres which is 35 metres higher than the dam which is built in Egypt on the same
river (Whittington, 2016). Moreover, because the water will be stored maximum by this dam
at the upstream of the river flowing through Sudan and Egypt so its water accumulation
character will impact the water flowing management through the Blue Nile river in these two
countries (International Rivers, 2017). So obviously, it will impact the usage of water at the
normal life of these two countries.
Uncertainty is the term that is related to the level of presence of the unknown factors in the
project or in the overall system because of which various unknown issues may get arise
during the overall life cycle. In this project, the water sharing by the different countries from
the single source of Blue Nile river is the factor that can increase the level of uncertainty for
this project. Because of this uncertainty in the water sharing concept between the countries
the overall level of complexity for the project shall also get increased.
The complexity level present in the GERD project can be compared by developing the radar
chart by using the Microsoft Excel software (Computergaga, 2017). The radar chart
developed by using the five factors of complexity that is technical, contextual, schedule, cost,
and financial is shown below (Gransberg, Shane, Strong, & Puerto, 2013).
Figure: Radar Chart of 5 factors (developed by Author)