ETHIOPIA TO CONTINUE WITH CONSTRUCTION OF RENAISSANCE DAM EVEN AFTER EGYPT WARNS

Mr Beleke says Ethiopia does not need anyone’s permission to benefit from its natural resources.

Ethiopian minister of water, electricity and irrigation, Seleshi Bekele, after a meeting (between countries that share the Nile) which ended without an agreement, said despite warnings from Egypt it would continue with the construction of its huge hydro dam on the Nile.

Egypt’s president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, had recently issued a stern warning to Ethiopia concerning its Renaissance Dam on the Nile, as construction of the Dam he said would affect their own share of the water.

But Ethiopia are finalizing the construction of their Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is the first major dam on the Blue Nile. The Dam is already 63% complete, and would soon start filling its reservoir to power the hydroelectric dam in other to generate electricity.

Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have had several discussions concerning the hydroelectric dam, but none have borne any fruit. Ethiopia says the dam is essential to its development and has repeatedly sought to reassure Egypt but to no avail.

Upon completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project, it will be the biggest hydroelectric dam in Africa.