Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt meet in Khartoum to discuss on GERD

Addis Ababa, January 23, 2020 (FBC) -Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt met yesterday in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to discuss on GERD.

The Khartoum meeting is a technical and legal discussion on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

During the meeting held last week in Washington, the three countries agreed the filling of the dam to be executed in stages.

They also agreed the filling to take place during the wet season, from July to August, and will continue in September subject to certain conditions.

Dr Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, told journalists after the meeting Ethiopia will start filling the dam at the end of this year. It will be completed within 4-7 years.

The three countries will meet again in Washington, D.C. on January 28-29, to finalize a comprehensive agreement on the filling and operation of the dam.

More than 70% of the works on the dam has so far been completed. GERD is scheduled to be fully completed in 2023.