Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hinted on Friday that the 3rd phase of the filling of the reservoir of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), built on the Blue Nile, has been completed.
“Today at this location, it is with great joy that I announce that the third round of infill is complete. Compared to last year, when the water level was 575m, we reached 600m, 25m more than the previous filling,” he said in a televised speech from the GERD site.
Addis Ababa is pushing ahead with its project, despite complaints from Sudan and Egypt, countries downstream of the Nile, who fear the GERD will impact their water supply.
Abiy, however, tried to reassure by saying that the objective of the GERD, presented as the largest in Africa, is to “develop our economy by producing electricity and not to “harm” the countries located downstream.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister underlined that “the Nile is a gift that God gave us for the Ethiopians to use it”, and “those who do not assume the responsibilities entrusted to them are subject to criticism”.
And to insist, “the Nile was given free of charge to three countries: Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt and these three countries benefited from the opportunity to use this water free of charge (…) If any country thinks that it should not be used, it contravenes the laws of Nature”.
“We also hope that, like Ethiopia, the other beneficiaries of the Nile, Sudan and Egypt, will use the river, each in their own way (…) we have kept our word that the project will cause no harm no one,” he continued.
Ethiopia has also announced the start-up of the second of the 13 turbines that will comprise its megadam.
By OMA Newsletter N° 819 of 12/08/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
