Ahram Online , Thursday 6 Jul 2023
Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Thursday that the fourth filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will extend to late August or early September, instead of early August.
This general view shows the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Guba, Ethiopia, on February 19, 2022. AFP
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In a session at the Ethiopian House of Representatives, Ahmed said that his government is taking into consideration the concern of the downstream countries Egypt and Sudan.
He added that Ethiopia was working carefully to make sure that there is enough Nile water for their needs, and at the same time protect its own interests.
“Accordingly, this year’s filling will be done differently from the previous three rounds by carrying out the filling in such a way as to alleviate the concerns of the neighbouring people. Instead of completing the filling in early August like in the previous rounds, it will be done at the beginning of September or at the end of August,” he explained.
The Ethiopian PM said that Ethiopia was ready to talk to “our brothers” Egypt and Sudan about how to jointly carry out new projects.
Both Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly called for Ethiopia to sign a legally binding agreement on the GERD in order to protect the two downstream countries’ water rights and interests.
Ethiopia, however, has continued to unilaterally fill and operate its mega-dam despite the two countries’ concerns and objections.
Egypt has argued that the dam is an existential issue for millions of Egyptians and Sudanese, highlighting the need to resolve the GERD dispute for regional stability.