Minister Says GERD Negotiations Do Not Compromise National Interest

[Abay Tana]

Minister Says GERD Negotiations Do Not Compromise National Interest

Ministry of Water, Energy and Irrigation said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations are being conducted based on the principle of equitable and reasonable way that “would not compromise Ethiopian sustainable water interest on Nile water.”

In his press briefing today, Water, Energy and Irrigation Minister Sileshi Bekele downplayed fake news circulated and disseminated on social media claiming that the agreement Ethiopia has been entering harms the national interest of the country.

Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan have been conducting extensive talks for almost eight years since the beginning of the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River.

The minister noted that Ethiopian negotiators have made fruitful talks by narrowing major technical gaps and building the consensus reached so far. These do not negatively affect Ethiopia’s interest.

“Generally, when we talk about Nile water, we are guided by a principle which allows equitable and reasonable use without causing significant harm. As a result, one thing that the people of Ethiopia should realize is all riparian countries need to use the water equitably. This should not be a source of dispute,” Sileshi pointed out.

Minister Says GERD Negotiations Do Not Compromise National Interest

[Abay Tana]

Ethiopia Pursues Win-Win Approach To GERD Negotiations: Minister

Organized by Institute for Strategic Affairs (ISA), a seminar on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations was held today.

The discussion which took place in Addis Ababa at the Hyatt Regency hotel, was attended by Dr Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy

As members of the Ethiopian National Panel of Experts and the GERD negotiation team, Engineer Gedion Asfaw, Engineer Kifle Horo and Tefera Beyene also attended the event.

In his remark to the seminar’s participants, Dr Seleshi outlined the overall benefits of the GERD, the on-going negotiation process along with the technical aspects and current status of the dam.

As far as the negotiation is concerned, he highlighted the need to focus on facts and pursue a win-win approach, as the dam is beneficial for both Ethiopia and all downstream countries.

In addition to significantly enhancing Ethiopia’s energy production, fishery development and tourism sector, GERD will also be beneficial for downstream countries to develop hydropower dams and runoff river plants, he said.

Speaking on the current status of the dam, the Minister said the number of turbines is reduced to 13 from 16, and GERD will produce 5,150MW and saves about $210 million.

Ethiopian National Panel of Experts and the GERD negotiation team also addressed questions raised by the participants comprising of policymakers, practitioners and researchers.

Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been conducting extensive talks for almost eight years since the beginning of the construction of the GERD on the Nile River.

Dr Seleshi told journalist yesterday that the negotiations are being held on the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization. The negotiation would not compromise Ethiopia’s sustainable water interest on Nile water.

He also downplayed fake news circulated and disseminated on social media claiming that the agreement Ethiopia has been entering harms the national interest of the country.

(source: FBC – https://www.fanabc.com/english/ethiopia-pursues-win-win-approach-to-gerd-negotiations-minister/)

[Abay Tana]

For Thousands of Years, Egypt Controlled the Nile. A New Dam Threatens That. – The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/09/world/africa/nile-river-dam.html

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Egypt treading cautiously in run-up to dam deal

https://thearabweekly.com/egypt-treading-cautiously-run-dam-deal

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US-led mediation may resolve Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan dam dispute

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/02/egypt-sudan-ethiopia-gerd-washington-meetings-negotiations.html

[Abay Tana]

GERD Meeting To Commence In Washington Tomorrow

Foreign and Water Affairs Ministers of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt will meet in Washington tomorrow to discuss on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Day (GERD).

The meeting, which is a continuation of the negotiation held on January 28-31, will be attended by the Secretary of the Treasury and the President of the World Bank as observers.

Dr. Seleshi Bekele, Ethiopia’s Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy Tweeted “I arrived in Washington DC to review results so far by the legal and technical teams of Ethiopia negotiating with Egypt and Sudan on GERD.”

“Number of articles and issues are not yet resolved, negotiation continues tomorrow. We, the Ethiopian team, continue to work vigilantly in advancing our national interest.” he added.

Dr. Seleshi recently said at a panel that Ethiopia pursues a win-win approach to GERD negotiations as the dam is beneficial for both Ethiopia and all downstream countries.

GERD, which will be the largest hydropower project in Africa once completed, is now more than 70% complete.

Filling of the dam will start at the end of this year and will be completed within 4-7 years.

GERD is scheduled to be fully completed in 2023.

(Source – FBC – https://www.fanabc.com/english/gerd-meeting-to-commence-in-washington-tomorrow/)

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