ID :
48884
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 13:29
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https://oananews.org//node/48884
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Mansour bin Zayed takes part in Sudan's Merowe Dam inauguration
KHARTOUM, March, 4, 2009 (WAM) - Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir on Tuesday expressed appreciation for the UAE's contribution to the Merowe Dam project on the River Nile, to the North of Khartoum.
Al-Bashir further hailed what he called the "Authentic Arab positions" taken by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Al-Bashir made his remarks as he received H.H Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) shortly before the inauguration ceremony for the Merowe Dam.
UAE's ADFD contributed $367 million out of the total cost of the project which is estimated at US$1.95 billion.
ADFD's loan to Sudan was granted in two tranches upon the signing of two agreements (in April 2003 and May 2008) with an interest rate of 1.5% and an additional 1% as services fees. The two tranches of the loan are supposed to be paid off over 20 years and the 15 years respectively.
The large construction project is situated in Merowe Town in northern Sudan, about 350 km north of the capital Khartoum on the river Nile, close to the 4th Cataract where the river divides into multiple smaller branches with large islands in between. The main purpose of the dam will be the generation of electricity. Its dimensions make it the largest contemporary hydropower project in Africa.
For his part, Sheikh Mansour said the project is a landmark in the bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries and is one of main projects on ADFD's priority list.
"ADFD has special interest in (Merowe Dam Project) not only because of the value of funding, but also because of its immediate economic benefits such as generating power, elevating the levels of services in the whole area, expanding agricultural lands as well as giving potentials for different other projects", remarked Sheikh Mansour.
Sheikh Mansour accompanied the Sudanese leader as he inaugurated Sudan's giant project and later as he toured the site.
In a speech at the ceremony, Sheikh Mansour congratulated the people and the government of Sudan, stressing that ADFD will continue its support to future development projects to further contribute to the prosperity of the Sudanese people.
Later, President Al-Bashir presented Sheikh Mansour with the Medal of the Republic of the First Order in appreciation of his efforts to strengthen and promote relations between the UAE and Sudan as well as for his personal role in success of the Merowe Dam project.
Upon arrival in Sudan early Tuesday to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the Merowe Dam, Sheikh Mansour was received by Sudanese Minister of Economy and Finance Awadh Ahmed Al-Jaz, other Sudanese officials and Charge d'Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Sudan Abdul Aziz Al-Mahmoud.
With a total span of 9.7 km and a maximum height of 67 meters, the Merowe Dam is a multipurpose project designed for power supply and agricultural irrigation. It has a 1.24-billion-cubic-meter reservoir that could help more than 4 million local residents living along the Nile.
Al-Bashir further hailed what he called the "Authentic Arab positions" taken by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Al-Bashir made his remarks as he received H.H Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) shortly before the inauguration ceremony for the Merowe Dam.
UAE's ADFD contributed $367 million out of the total cost of the project which is estimated at US$1.95 billion.
ADFD's loan to Sudan was granted in two tranches upon the signing of two agreements (in April 2003 and May 2008) with an interest rate of 1.5% and an additional 1% as services fees. The two tranches of the loan are supposed to be paid off over 20 years and the 15 years respectively.
The large construction project is situated in Merowe Town in northern Sudan, about 350 km north of the capital Khartoum on the river Nile, close to the 4th Cataract where the river divides into multiple smaller branches with large islands in between. The main purpose of the dam will be the generation of electricity. Its dimensions make it the largest contemporary hydropower project in Africa.
For his part, Sheikh Mansour said the project is a landmark in the bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries and is one of main projects on ADFD's priority list.
"ADFD has special interest in (Merowe Dam Project) not only because of the value of funding, but also because of its immediate economic benefits such as generating power, elevating the levels of services in the whole area, expanding agricultural lands as well as giving potentials for different other projects", remarked Sheikh Mansour.
Sheikh Mansour accompanied the Sudanese leader as he inaugurated Sudan's giant project and later as he toured the site.
In a speech at the ceremony, Sheikh Mansour congratulated the people and the government of Sudan, stressing that ADFD will continue its support to future development projects to further contribute to the prosperity of the Sudanese people.
Later, President Al-Bashir presented Sheikh Mansour with the Medal of the Republic of the First Order in appreciation of his efforts to strengthen and promote relations between the UAE and Sudan as well as for his personal role in success of the Merowe Dam project.
Upon arrival in Sudan early Tuesday to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the Merowe Dam, Sheikh Mansour was received by Sudanese Minister of Economy and Finance Awadh Ahmed Al-Jaz, other Sudanese officials and Charge d'Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Sudan Abdul Aziz Al-Mahmoud.
With a total span of 9.7 km and a maximum height of 67 meters, the Merowe Dam is a multipurpose project designed for power supply and agricultural irrigation. It has a 1.24-billion-cubic-meter reservoir that could help more than 4 million local residents living along the Nile.
