http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/95794/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-irrigation-minister-denounces-Ethiopias-obst.aspx
Egypt irrigation minister denounces Ethiopia's 'obstinacy' on dam
The Renaissance Dam has been a source of concern for the Egyptian
government, with anxiety high that it would negatively affect Egypt's share
of Nile water
MENA, Ahram Online , Monday 3 Mar 2014
Egypt's Irrigation Minister Mahmoud Abdel-Muttalib denounced on Monday what
he described as Ethiopia's obstinacy towards building its Grand Renaissance
Dam, MENA reported.
Ethiopia's project is a $4.2 billion hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile,
one of the main tributaries of the Nile. It is a source of concern to
Egypt, since it is still undetermined how it will affect Egypt's Nile water
share, the country's main source of potable water.
In talks last January between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, negotiations hit a
dead-end, with MENA reporting that Ethiopia refused to discuss the terms of
"confidence-building measures," which Egyptian officials say must be
changed in order to avoid reduction of Egypt's Nile river water share.
Abdel-Muttalib, who retained his position in Egypt's new interim cabinet,
said Egypt's Nile water share is a "red line" that Egypt won't allow to be
crossed.
He reiterated that the country encourages development in Ethiopia, without
harming Egypt's water rights.
On Saturday, a spokesman of the government-owned Ethiopian Electric Power
Corporation reportedly said some 32 percent of construction of the
Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam has been completed, with efforts
intensifying to complete the rest.
Spokesman Miskir Negash said construction of the dam has been ongoing "day
and night," adding that the dam has so far employed 7,000 people.
Received on Mon Mar 03 2014 - 13:46:02 EST