Ethiopia: Egypt has expressed anger after Ethiopia announced that it has filled its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile. The dam has been the source of a long-running water dispute between Ethiopia and two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan.
Ethiopia has been in dispute with Egypt and Sudan over the megaproject since its launch in 2011. Egypt relies on the Nile for nearly all its water needs. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry commented that Ethiopia was disregarding the interests of the downstream countries.
Ethiopia stated that the $4.2 billion dam would not cut off their share of Nile water. “It is with great pleasure that I announce the successful completion of the fourth and final filling of the Renaissance Dam,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Mr. Abiy Ahmed posted on X. The Prime Minister admitted the project had faced “internal and external obstacles” but “we endured all that.” The dam began generating electricity in February 2022.
Ethiopia believes the GERD will double the country’s electricity output, providing a vital development boost, as currently half of the country’s 127 million population lacks electricity. The plan is to generate more than 6,000 MW at the dam, which is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Ethiopia’s border with Sudan.
In a statement on Facebook, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Ethiopia’s “unilateral” filling of the reservoir violated a declaration of principles signed by the three countries in 2015 and branded Ethiopia’s action “illegal”.
“The declaration of principles stipulates the necessity of the three countries reaching an agreement on the rules for filling and operating the Gerd before commencing the filling process. Ethiopia’s unilateral measures are considered a disregard for the interests and rights of the downstream countries and their water security, as guaranteed by principles of international law,” the statement noted.
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