Page 7 - AsiaElec Week 24

AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec

Sudan’s hopes Addis Ababa claims the $4bn GERD project
Meanwhile, Sudan stressed in a statement that it will provide much-needed hydropower for the
was more exposed to the effects of filling the dam country and neighbouring Sudan, although
with Nile water, given the GERD’s closeness to Cairo claims that water supplies will be nega-
the Sudanese-Ethiopian border. tively affected downstream in Egypt.
In particular, the Roseires Dam, which is in Construction began in 2011, and although
South Sudan, is located close to the GERD site, the three countries signed a declaration of prin-
and any change to this dam caused by GERD ciples in 2015 concerning construction and
would affect both South Sudan and Sudan the operations, the three have since failed to reach
most. any agreement, leading to mediation by the US
On the other hand, Sudan is keen on the pro- in February 2020.
ject, as it will receive much needed hydropower
supplies from the dam. Looking ahead
Sudan’s call for talks comes after it rejected in The talks are intended to take place between June
May Ethiopian proposals to break the impasse 9 and 13, and the international observers want
by signing a separate two-sided agreement all sides to reach a full agreement on filling and
between the two countries to allow the filling of operating the dam.
the GERD’s dam. However, both Egypt and Ethiopia have not
Sudan rejected the offer and instead asked yet given any indication that they will compro-
Ethiopia to resume the stalled US-brokered mise, despite Sudanese efforts to push forward
negotiations on the issue. the talks.
Egypt’s comments were especially strong,
Washington talks accusing Ethiopia of failing to keep to the 2015
The flurry of declarations this week comes after agreement.
US-brokered talks between Egypt and Ethiopia, Ethiopia now insists that it will go ahead with
dubbed the Washington process, ended in failure completing the dam and filling the adjacent
February when Ethiopia withdrew. reservoir with or without the agreement of its
Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt had been expected neighbours.
to sign an agreement in Washington on the fill- The current talks have started badly, with
ing and operation of the dam, which Ethiopia claims and counter-claims. It is difficult to see
currently says is 73% complete. how any breakthrough is likely this week, given
With the withdrawal of Ethiopian officials, the impasse that has existed since the Washing-
citing the need to consult with their government, ton talks and the lack of any offer of compromise
only Egypt signed the agreement. from either side. ™

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