Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to reconvene in Washington on January 28-29 to finalize a comprehensive agreement on the rules of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) filling and operation, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Ahmed Hafez.
In a joint statement, the ministers agreed that consultations among technical and legal experts of the three countries will take place during the interim period.
The foreign ministry spokesman added that the joint statement includes the main elements and determinants of the final agreement, foremost of which, the rules regulating the filling and operation of the dam, as well as the procedures that must be followed to deal with prolonged drought, in a manner that ensures no harm to Egyptian water interests.
In addition, the ministers agreed to establish an effective coordination mechanism and provisions for the settlement of disputes.
Moreover, Hafez noted that Egypt’s Foreign Minister (FM) Sameh Shoukry lauded US Treasury Secretary and his teamwork's efforts to sponsor GERD talks and to bring the views of the three countries closer.
Meanwhile, the FM expressed Egypt's intention to continue working to conclude a “balanced and just” final agreement, which secures the common interests of the three countries and preserves Egypt's rights and water interests.
The joint statement issued by the three countries, the World Bank and the US Treasury Department includes the following points:
- The filling of the GERD will be executed in stages and will be undertaken in an adaptive and cooperative manner that takes into consideration the hydrological conditions of the Blue Nile and the potential impact of the filling on downstream reservoirs.
- The filling will take place during the wet season, generally from July to August, and will continue in September subject to certain conditions.
- The initial filling stage of the GERD will provide for the rapid achievement of a level of 595 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.) and the early generation of electricity, while providing appropriate mitigation measures for Egypt and Sudan in case of severe droughts during this stage.
- The subsequent stages of filling will be done according to a mechanism to be agreed that determines release based upon the hydrological conditions of the Blue Nile and the level of the GERD that addresses the filling goals of Ethiopia and provides electricity generation and appropriate mitigation measures for Egypt and Sudan during prolonged periods of dry years, drought and prolonged drought.
- During long term operation, the GERD will operate according to a mechanism that determines release based upon the hydrological conditions of the Blue Nile and the level of the GERD that provides electricity generation and appropriate mitigation measures for Egypt and Sudan during prolonged periods of dry years, drought and prolonged drought.
- An effective coordination mechanism and provisions for the settlement of disputes will be established.
- The Ministers agreed that there is a shared responsibility of the three countries in managing drought and prolonged drought.
- The Ministers agreed to meet again in Washington, D.C. on January 28-29 to finalize a comprehensive agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD, and that there will be technical and legal discussions in the interim period.
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