Ethiopia says first year of Nile River dam filling 'achieved'
Ethiopia plans to continue talks with Egypt and Sudan after Ethiopia backtracked from reports it had started filling the controversial dam last week.
The first year of filling Ethiopia’s mega dam on the Nile River has been “achieved,” and talks with Egypt and Sudan will continue, the Ethiopian government said today.
Following a backtrack on reports of Ethiopia filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) last week, Ethiopia's Office of the Prime Minister said seasonal rains led to this conclusion.
“It has become evident over the past two weeks in the rainy season that the GERD first year filling is achieved,” the prime minister's office said in a statement released on Tuesday following an African Union (AU) meeting.
Ethiopia planned to start filling the GERD in July during the country’s rainy season. The dam sits on the Blue Nile River, which flows into the Nile River. Ethiopia wants the dam to provide energy and help its economy. Egypt and Sudan are concerned filling the dam could dangerously lower the water levels in the parts of the Nile in their countries.
