Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has preempted Ethiopia’s third filling of the Renaissance Dam’s reservoir and warned against “undermining” Egypt’s water share.
He affirmed that his country adheres to “diplomacy and patience” when it comes to the conflict over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Cairo is currently implementing many projects to benefit from its share in the Nile waters, Sisi told a group of media professionals on the sidelines of the inauguration of several development projects on Monday.
He also indicated that Addis Ababa is ignoring Cairo's demands to sign a binding legal agreement on the rules of filling and operating the dam that preserves the interests of all concerned countries.
Ethiopia began constructing the 1.8-kilometer-long dam on the Blue Nile in 2011 to generate power.
According to Ethiopian Ambassador to Moscow Alemayehu Tegenu, 88% of the construction work have been completed, noting that his country looks forward to complete the construction process by late 2023.
Ethiopian officials have recently stated that the third filling will take place in the upcoming rainy season in August and September, which is expected to raise tension with the two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan.
In 2011, Addis Ababa announced the construction of the $4 billion dam to be the centerpiece of Ethiopia’s bid to become Africa’s biggest power exporter, generating more than 6,000 megawatts.
Egypt fears that the dam will damage its limited share of the Nile water, about 55.5 billion cubic meters, which the country needs for more than 90% for its supply of drinking water, irrigation for agriculture and industry.
