This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
On June 27, 2020, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office stated that the country was on schedule to begin filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) within weeks.
The GERD, set to be Africa's largest hydroelectric project, has been a source of tension in the Nile basin since Ethiopia broke ground on it nearly a decade ago.
Egypt and Sudan have expressed concerns about access to vital water supplies from the Nile, while Ethiopia sees the project as essential for its development.
Despite claims by Egypt and Sudan that Ethiopia had agreed to delay filling the dam's reservoir until an agreement was reached, Ethiopia's statement made no mention of a delay.
“Ethiopia is scheduled to begin filling the GERD within the next two weeks, during which the remaining construction work will continue,” the statement said.
“It is in this period, that the three countries have agreed to reach a final agreement on a few pending matters.”
Trilateral talks on the dam resumed earlier this month, with the biggest sticking points concerning how to operate the dam during periods of drought and how to resolve disputes.
As the situation unfolds, the United Nations Security Council is set to meet to discuss objections to the dam raised by Egypt and Sudan.
