EGYPT EXPLORES SEA WATER DESALINATION TO OFFSET NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GERD PROJECT

CAIRO — Egypt is exploring ways to increase its water resources and offset any negative effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in light of the stalled tripartite negotiations between it, Sudan and Ethiopia.

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have been in a deadlock over the GERD since April. The crisis was raised more than once before the UN Security Council — most recently in July — which referred it back to the African Union, but to no avail. Ethiopia continues to fill the GERD reservoir, disregarding objections raised by Egypt and Sudan.

On Aug. 9, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called for a direct meeting between the three disputing parties. Algeria, along with the UN, US and EU, would mediate the meeting under the AU sponsorship. He noted that the initiative was welcomed by the disputing parties, but no date has been set for resuming negotiations.

During a meeting on Aug. 9 with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Assem al-Jazzar revealed that Cairo has received bids from 60 major international companies to implement seawater desalination projects.

In a cabinet meeting a day earlier, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for conducting studies on implementing advanced water desalination technology in the country.

Read more: Al-monitor.com