African Nations Restart Talks On Ethiopia's Nile Dam - Reports

African Nations Restart Talks on Ethiopia's Nile Dam - Reports

Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia restarted technical talks on Wednesday ahead of a crucial meeting next week that is expected to result in a final deal on Ethiopia's controversial Nile Dam, media said

CAIRO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2020) Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia restarted technical talks on Wednesday ahead of a crucial meeting next week that is expected to result in a final deal on Ethiopia's controversial Nile Dam, media said.

Foreign and water ministers from the three African countries met in Washington last week to try and reach a consensus on how Ethiopia could mitigate the risk of drought in downstream countries, but no pact was concluded.

The expert meeting on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is expected to continue into Thursday, Egyptian news agency MENA reported.

Ethiopia began building a giant dam on the Blue Nile, a major tributary to Africa's longest river, in 2011 in a bid to boost hydropower production.

The project caused a row with Sudan and Egypt, which rely on the Blue Nile for over 80 percent of their water flow. Ethiopia wants the dam's reservoir to be filled in three years, while Egypt suggests a slower schedule.

During the US- and World Bank-mediated talks last week, the stakeholders agreed that the filling would be executed in stages during the wet season and that mitigation measures should be put in place in case of a dry season.