(AFP FILE PHOTO / WILLIAM LLOYD GEORGE)
Egypt’s Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources received on Monday two international studies on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The two studies were conducted by two European offices, one in the Netherlands and one in France, and thoroughly outlined the impact of the GERD construction.
Alaa Yassin, the ministry’s GERD consultant said: “The studies showcase an updated review on the technical consequences for constructing the GERD on the Nile River’s flow to Egypt and Sudan.”
He added: “They also tackle the GERD impact on the hydroelectric power generation on Egypt’s high dam, in addition to the potentially negative social, environmental and economic implications for the GERD construction.”
A meeting between experts and ministers from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan, will be held in Cairo from 1 to 3 July to discuss the studies presented.
According to Yassin, if all parties agreed on the studies, they will sign the studies on 11 July.
The GERD, which has seen 60% of its construction completed, has created strained relations between Ethiopia and Egypt since its construction in 2011, and which reached its peak in 2013.
Egypt, which utilises more Nile River water than any other country, fears the dam will have a detrimental effect on its share of Nile water.
It rejects the current high storage capacity of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) at 74bn cubic metres, as studies showed it will affect its national water security.
As per agreements signed in 1929 and 1959, Egypt annually receives 55.5bn cubic metres of the estimated total 84bn cubic metres of Nile River water produced each year, whilst Sudan receives 18.5bn cubic metres.
