Droughts over the past 10 years have led to dam levels in the central area becoming critically low. The tourism industry in Botswana strongly opposes the plan, saying that the delicate ecology and environment of the Okavango Delta will be damaged. Conservationists are also concerned that Namibia may go ahead without making a full environmental study. However, Namibia has said it will wait until a study is made by the Okavango River Basin Commission, an impartial body set up by Angola, Botswana and Namibia. This could take five years to complete.
Local communities rely heavily on the river.
Last year, residents of Maun in the north-west walked out of a meeting called by Namibia to discuss the proposed pipeline, saying they wanted to hear the views of their own government instead. Botswana has set up a technical committee to study the effects of the pipeline, and will only comment after its report has been submitted to government, says water affairs minister David Magang. Perhaps Namibia will do the same if the river basin commission is opposed to its scheme.