Egypt announced on Sunday that it has resumed negotiations with Ethiopia and Sudan concerning the Ethiopian mega-dam on the Nile River. The hydroelectric power plant, considered crucial by Addis Ababa, is viewed as a potential threat by Cairo and Khartoum. These discussions, taking place in Cairo, aim to reach an agreement that considers the interests and concerns of all three countries, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
“It is important to put an end to unilateral actions,” emphasized Minister Hani Sewilam, as Ethiopia commenced the fourth phase of reservoir filling for its mega-dam at the end of June.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), costing around €3.5 billion, has been at the heart of a regional conflict since Ethiopia began construction in 2011. Egypt and Sudan fear that it could reduce their share of Nile water.
In mid-July, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave themselves four months to achieve an agreement on the dam’s filling and operation. The two leaders met during an African summit on the conflict that has been ongoing in Sudan for over four months.
Previous negotiations on the dam did not yield any agreement, with discussions coming to a halt in April 2021. Egypt views the dam as an existential threat as it relies on the Nile for 97% of its water needs.
This mega-dam, stretching 1.8 km in length and towering at 145 meters, aims to double Ethiopia’s current electricity production. However, only about half of its approximately 120 million inhabitants currently have access to electricity. The diplomatic efforts surrounding the dam underscore the complex balance between harnessing hydropower for development and addressing downstream concerns.