Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan reach deal on controversial Nile dam

Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour

Tuesday, 29 December 2015 15:30

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on Tuesday signed an agreement regarding a controversial mega-dam project being built by Addis Ababa on the Nile.The deal crowned three days of talks between the irrigation and foreign ministers of the three countries in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

The agreement calls for completing the technical studies into the effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the downstream countries in a period between eight months to one year.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour hailed the deal as “historic”, saying that the three states have selected two French consultancy firms to conduct the technical studies into the dam’s effects.

“The deal also calls for the commitment of a declaration of principles signed by the leaders of the three countries in Khartoum in March,” he told a press conference in Khartoum.

According to the minister, a new meeting will be held within one month between the three countries to continue their talks on the dam.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, for his part, reiterated his country’s commitment to the declaration of principles signed between the three countries.

“We have held discussions in full faith with a view to reaching understandings that lead to achieving the common good and meeting the needs of all parties,” he said.

The multi-billion-dollar dam project has been at the center of a diplomatic row between Cairo and Addis Ababa.

While Ethiopia views the dam as a prerequisite for its economic development, Egypt fears the project could lead to a marked reduction in its traditional share of Nile water.

A main point of disagreement between Cairo and Addis Ababa is the latter’s plans to store water behind the dam. Ethiopia plans to store water behind the dam during the next five years, but Egypt has been pushing for delaying this move until the technical studies on the dam’s effects are completed.

SOURCE       =     MEMO MIDDLE EAST MONITOR

Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan sign new deal on Nile dam

French firms to study environmental impact of Grand Renaissance Dam as Ethiopia pledges to respect Egypt’s interests.

Even before the impact studies have been started, officials say 50 percent of the dam’s construction has been completed [Reuters]

Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have agreed on which firms will carry out studies on the potential impact of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam on the flow of the Nile, their foreign and water ministers said.

Cairo and Addis Ababa had previously been locked in a bitter war of words over Ethiopia’s $4bn project.

But in March, the leaders of the three countries signed a cooperation deal in the Sudanese capital Khartoum that paved the way for a joint approach to regional water supplies.

READ MORE: Hydro diplomacy on the Nile 

Following a two-day meeting of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan’s foreign and water ministers, Khartoum’s chief diplomat, Ibrahim Ghandour, on Tuesday said two French firms BRL and Artelia had been tapped for the work.

Technical studies will start in February, when the six ministers are due to meet again, and will take between six and 15 months, Moataz Mousa, the Sudanese water minister, said.

The principles in the March agreement included giving priority to downstream countries for electricity generated by the dam, a mechanism for resolving conflicts, and providing compensation for damages.

Signatories also pledged to protect the interests of downstream countries when the dam’s reservoir is filled.

Addis Ababa has long complained that Cairo was pressuring donor countries and international lenders to withhold funding from the 6,000 megawatt dam, which is being built by Italy’s largest construction firm Salini Impregilo Spa.

READ MORE: The tension-ridden hydro-politics of the Nile

Egypt, which relies almost exclusively on the Nile for farming, industry and domestic water use, has sought assurances that the dam will not significantly cut the flow to its rapidly growing population.

Even before the impact studies have been started, officials say 50 percent of the dam’s construction has been completed.

“We are satisfied with the results of this meeting and look forward to achieving a strategic partnership,” said Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian foreign minister.

Ethiopia, the source of the Blue Nile which joins the White Nile in Khartoum and runs on to Egypt, says the dam will not disrupt flow. It hopes the project will transform it into a power hub for the electricity-hungry region.

READ MORE: The history of the Nile and Tis Abbay

 “We see the agreement over these companies as progress and look forward to actualising the interests of the three countries. We believe the dam will be useful to the three countries,” said Tedros Adhanom, the Ethiopian foreign minister.

The Grand Renaissance Dam is the centrepiece of Ethiopia’s bid to become Africa’s biggest power exporter. Addis Ababa plans to spend some $12bn on harnessing its rivers for hydro power production in the next two decades.

Source: Agencies

 

 

 

Leave a Reply