Sunday September 15, 2019
CAIRO (AP) - Egypt says negotiations over an upstream Nile dam being built by Ethiopia have not led to any “breakthrough.”
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told reporters that talks over the $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have stopped for more than a year before restarting in Cairo on Sunday.
The long-running dispute centres on the filling and operation of what will be Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam.
Shoukry says he hopes that Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia can agree a timetable to reach a deal over the soon-to-be-completed dam.
Egypt fears the dam could reduce its share of the Nile River which serves as a lifeline for the country’s 100 million people. Ethiopian maintains that the dam will help its development.
Shoukry says his county “respects Ethiopia’s right to development” but “without affecting Egypt.”