Water wars intensify between Egypt, Ethiopia
Controversy continues to swirl around the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, with conflicting reports emerging about how soon Ethiopia will begin storing water there.
CAIRO — Egyptians are worried about uncertainties surrounding Ethiopia's schedule for storing Nile water behind the walls of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The latest satellite photos show Ethiopia is preparing for storage, especially since the country pumped water into two turbines to generate electricity, according to Alaa el-Nahry, vice president of the UN-affiliated Regional Center for Space Studies and Egypt’s representative to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
In December, Nahry said he expects Addis Ababa to actually start storing water in the reservoir in June.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation disputed Nahry’s statements. Minister Hossam Moghazy said Jan. 31 that no water is being stored behind the dam, and won't be until the current technical studies between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are completed.
