Egypt tackles Ethiopia in renewed Grand Renaissance Dam rows
Egypt’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Hani Sewilam, expressed deep concerns regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), asserting that Ethiopia’s motives extend beyond electricity generation, aiming at political dominance over the Nile River.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya satellite channel, Minister Sewilam emphasized Ethiopia’s construction of an excessively large reservoir, surpassing the capacity necessary for the declared electricity generation goals laid out during the 12 years of negotiations.
“The GERD will have a political usage, and Egypt will not allow Ethiopia’s control and domination of the Nile waters,” Minister Sewilam stated firmly.
He pointed out that hidden objectives are evident in Ethiopia’s formulations during the negotiations and its overall approach to the dam, further highlighting the disproportionately large size of the dam’s reservoir. These, according to Sewilam, indicate intentions beyond the publicly stated goal of electricity production.
Egypt and Sudan have consistently urged Addis Ababa to halt the filling of the GERD until a comprehensive agreement is reached on the dam’s operation. Despite ongoing negotiations, Ethiopia continues to fill the dam without a mutual consensus on filling and operational guidelines.
Egypt, heavily reliant on the Nile for 97 percent of its water needs, views the GERD as an existential threat. The nation’s apprehensions about potential water shortages and the broader geopolitical implications of Ethiopia’s control over the Nile have led to intensified diplomatic efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution.
The GERD, initiated by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile in 2011, aims to generate up to 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
