Ethiopia says it has completed filling a reservoir for its controversial hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile river – a challenge which as soon as prompted Egyptian politicians to debate army motion.
Construction of the $4bn (£3.2bn) Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam started in 2011 and Ethiopia sees the challenge as essential to powering its financial improvement.
“Our national perseverance against all odds has delivered,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s workplace wrote on X, previously referred to as Twitter.
The Blue Nile originates in Ethiopia and flows for round 900 miles by way of the nation. It is considered one of two main tributaries of the well-known River Nile.
It’s anticipated that the dam can be able to producing greater than 6,000 megawatts, and Ethiopia sees it because the centrepiece of its bid to develop into Africa’s largest energy exporter.
Egypt and Sudan, nonetheless, contemplate the challenge a critical risk to their important water provides.
The three international locations have been in protracted negotiations over the challenge.
Read extra on Sky News:
Two tankers collide in Suez Canal disrupting visitors
Inside refugee camps as 1000’s flee Sudan
In an indication of a possible breakthrough in July, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi and his Ethiopian counterpart agreed on plans to finalise an settlement between the three international locations on the filling of the dam and the foundations for its operation.
But on Sunday Egypt’s overseas ministry stated Ethiopia’s step “places a burden on the course of the resumed negotiations, the next round of which… is hoped will witness a tangible and real breakthrough”.
The controversy over the dam has been rumbling on for greater than a decade.
In 2013, Egyptian politicians had been caught on digital camera discussing whether or not to destroy the dam which, they stated, may threaten Egypt’s existence.
Then president Mohammed Morsi’s overseas coverage adviser Essam Al Haddad known as it “a matter of life for Egypt”.
Source: information.sky.com”