Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) – A meeting of ministers in charge of water resources from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia was held Saturday to discuss the recommendations of the international committee of experts on the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The dam, which Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile River, has generated much controversy in the region, especially from Egypt which depends heavily on the waters from the River.
Egypt’s Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Mohamed Abdul Mutalab told reporters after the meeting that several studies are to be conducted on the expected hazards, especially the hydrological and environmental effects, of the dam on Egypt and the Sudan.
He said the ministers agreed on the important role to be played by the international experts in case technical differences arise among the parties.
Earlier, Ethiopian Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy Alemayehu Tegunu called for the removal of misunderstandings surrounding the projected Renaissance Dam through objective dialogue and discussion among the three states.
Tegunu said his country is concerned with building trust among the three countries and cooperation in building the Dam which he said would be beneficial to all of them, stressing that it is of a strategic priority and will play a great role in eradication of poverty in Ethiopia.
He said the report of the international committee of experts contains recommendations which his country has to implement through direct liaison with the companies which will build the dam.
Most of the recommendations the International committee presented to Ethiopia have been taken into consideration for construction the Dam, Tegunu said.
Also speaking at the tripartite meeting, Sudanese Water, Electricity and Dams Minister Mutaz Mussa sought common understanding for the implementation of the recommendations of the international committee of experts, in the light of the two studies to be conducted by the three states.
Photo: Ethiopianewsforum
