Egypt postpones tripartite meeting on Nile dam

October 4, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Egyptian government decided to postpone a tripartite committee meeting with Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) after the two countries reportedly failed to respond to Cairo’s invitation.

An adviser to the Egyptian minister of Irrigation by the name of Ala Yassin told the Turkey-based Anadolu agency that original date for the meeting of October 4-5 has not been agreed upon.

The official disclosed that Ethiopia asked Egypt for postponement since it is in the process of swearing-in a new parliament and forming a new government after the elections which took place last May.

He denied the existence of disagreements between the tripartite committee and the French and Dutch consultancy firms tasked with conducting a technical assessment.

The committee is made up of six members (two each from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia), and 4 international experts in the fields of dams, water resources and environment among other areas.

Last month, it was reported on Egyptian media that the Dutch consultancy firm withdrew from the technical assessment mission saying that conditions imposed by the committee will not help it produce a high-quality study.

Egypt has in the past warned against any developmental projects along the Nile River by upper stream Ethiopia which is a source to over 85% of the River.

The North African nation fears that the construction of what would be Africa’s biggest dam would eventually diminish its water share and argues that it violates colonial agreements on Nile water shares.

(ST)