Panic downriver as Ethiopia's mega dam hits first-year target
Ethiopia's controversial dam on the Nile River has reportedly already met its first-year filling target despite the ongoing disagreements with Egypt and Sudan over its impacts on countries further down the Nile.
CAIRO — On July 21, the Ethiopian government announced the first-year target for filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has already been reached with 4.9 billion cubic meters estimated to have been stored, according to Ethiopian Water Minister Seleshi Bekele. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed explained that increased precipitation was responsible. Meanwhile, Sudan said water levels at al-Deim border station with Ethiopia had declined because the GERD’s gates were shut.
Ahmed tweeted, “I appreciate the mutual understanding with the Sudanese Prime Minister and the Egyptian President on continuing technical discussions on filling the Renaissance Dam.”
A mini African Union summit followed the latest tripartite talks between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the Nile dam dispute and again failed to yield any results.
The rainy season in Ethiopia between July and September feeds the Blue Nile River, the source of 80-85% of the water flowing to the Nile River. The GERD, built on the Blue Nile, threatens Egypt's water quota of 55.5 billion cubic meters and shrink agricultural lands, undermining Egypt's fragile food security.
