This archive report was first published on 11 January 2020.
Published on January 11, 2020, a meeting between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to discuss the filling of the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile ended inconclusively.
The talks, initiated by the US and supported by the World Bank, aimed to ensure that Ethiopia's $5 billion dam on the Blue Nile fills up for irrigation and hydroelectric power production without affecting water supply to Sudan and Egypt.
However, the two countries disagreed on the time needed to fill up the dam, with Ethiopia wanting seven years and Egypt pushing for 12 to 21 years.
‘The Egyptian template...is unacceptable to us,’ said Ethiopian Minister of Water and Irrigation Seleshi Bekele, adding that the country will begin filling the dam in July.
Despite the disagreement, the Egyptian proposal included provisions for drought mitigation and fair operating rules that enable Addis to generate electricity while maintaining the operation of Al-ssad Al-ally Dam in Egypt.
Cairo and Khartoum expressed concerns that any faster filling of the dam could expose downstream countries, with Egypt already facing a water shortage of 21 billion cubic meters.
Ministers from the three countries are expected to meet in Washington next week to continue the talks, with the US and the World Bank offering to mediate between the parties.
