Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia signed an agreement on Tuesday tasking French consulting companies BRL Ingénierie and Artelia with conducting feasibility studies on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), state news agency MENA reported. The three countries’ irrigation ministers and Egypt’s ambassador to Sudan were present at the signing in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. In line with recommendations from the 10-member International Panel of Experts established by the three countries, the feasibility studies will include an assessment of the dam’s environmental, socioeconomic and ecological impacts. “Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity of Ethiopia Ato Motuma Mekassa in his remarks reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment for regional cooperation. Ethiopia has committed itself for the conduct of the two studies with the aim of building trust and confidence as well as enhancing cooperation and regional integration in the Nile Basin,” the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. According to the statement, the agreement serves as a “roadmap to conduct the two studies within the next 11 months.” Although the Tripartite National Committee (TNC) of three countries have just come to an agreement on conducting the feasibility studies, Ethiopia’s Minister of Information and…
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia Sign Agreement to Conduct Technical Studies on Grand Renaissance Dam
September 20, 2016
