Four Arab funds have agreed to finance the Merowe hydroelectric dam on the Nile river in northern Sudan. The funds: the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Kuwaiti Fund for Economic Development, the Saudi Fund for Economic Development and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, have pledged US$780M for the US$1.25B project.
Designs for Merowe dam, about 350km north of Khartoum, are ready and bids would be invited from international firms for construction which is expected to start in 2002. The dam will also provide some water for irrigation in the region. The hydro plant to be installed at the dam has the potential to develop 1250MW.