Washington meeting on GERD ended without final agreement

Addis Ababa, February 14, 2020 (FBC) –The Washington meeting between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt has ended last night without a breakthrough.

The meeting  on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was held on February 12 and 13, 2020.

It was attended by the US Secretary of the Treasury and the President of the World Bank as observers.

During the meeting,  Ministers of the three countries reviewed the progress achieved by their technical and legal teams.

Fitsum Arega, Ambassador of Ethiopia to the United States, said “this round of meeting between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt on GERD also ended without a final agreement.”

The three countries have been holding talks for almost eight years since the beginning of the construction of the GERD on the Nile River.

Dr Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, said the negotiations are being held on the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization.

The negotiation would not compromise Ethiopia’s sustainable water interest on the Nile.

GERD, which will be the largest hydropower project in Africa once completed, is now more than 70% complete.

Filling of the dam will start at the end of this year and will be completed within 4-7 years.

GERD is scheduled to be fully completed in 2023.