Cairo: Egypt "will not allow" Ethiopia to build new dams on the Nile River, stated Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam amid an ongoing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Sewilam's declaration follows media reports suggesting Ethiopia's intention to construct three additional dams alongside the GERD.
According to TRTworld.com, Sewilam emphasized during a press conference in Cairo that Egypt will not permit further dam constructions by Ethiopia. He highlighted Egypt's consistent call for a clear, legally binding framework for sharing operational data on the GERD. This mechanism is crucial for downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, to understand expected water releases and annual operating plans.
The lack of information has placed Sudan in a challenging position, hindering its ability to manage water storage and operate its dams effectively due to insufficient data on water volumes and release schedules from Ethiopia. Sewilam stated that Sudan should not be held accountable for any water management disruptions under these circumstances, placing the responsibility on Ethiopia for not agreeing to a legally binding data-sharing mechanism.
The minister reiterated Egypt's commitment to achieving a legally binding agreement on the GERD's filling and operation, ensuring regular data exchange to protect the interests of all involved parties and mitigate risks associated with shared water resources management.
Currently, there is no response from Ethiopia regarding the Egyptian minister's comments. The GERD, whose construction began in 2011, has been a point of contention between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Cairo and Khartoum demand a legally binding trilateral agreement before the project's full operation, while Ethiopia claims such an agreement is unnecessary, arguing that the dam will not harm downstream countries' interests.
The disagreement previously led to a three-year halt in negotiations, with talks resuming in 2023 before stalling again in 2024. The Nile River, spanning approximately 6,650 kilometers (4,132 miles), is a shared resource among 11 countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, the DR Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.