Economic evaluation of the proposed alternatives of inter-basin water transfer from the Baro Akobo to Awash basin in Ethiopia

Water resources in Ethiopia are relatively skewed towards basins with rivers flowing to the west and southwest. Baro Akobo, which is a part of the eastern Nile River basin, is a west-flowing river with water availability of about 3432 m³ per person per year. Awash basin in the east is a water-deficit basin with just about 325 m³ per person. This study identifies and analyses the three possible alternatives of water transfer from Baro Akobo to Awash basin in Ethiopia. The first proposed link is about 685 km long, out of which about 516 km flow is under gravity, while 167 km is proposed to be pumped. The total cost of this link is about 1.793 billion USD. The second proposed link involves 542 km-long water conveyance and its approximate cost will be 1.84 billion USD. The third proposed option suggests a water conveyance of 519 km with an approximate cost of 1.637 billion USD. All the three possible alternatives are critically evaluated and then the most feasible and economical option is recommended for the inter-basin water transfer from Baro Akobo to Awash basin in Ethiopia.