Ethiopia to Fill GERD Per Schedule, Ready to Negotiate on Other Issues : PM Aby

Addis Abeba  march 23/2021 (ENA)Ethiopia will proceed with filling the second phase of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and is at the same time ready to negotiate with the downstream countries, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.

Addressing the House of People's Representatives, the premier said Ethiopia cannot afford losing 1 billion USD by  not filling the dam this rainy season.

Stressing Ethiopia’s position, Abiy said “Ethiopia has no intention of harming Egypt and Sudan.”

He elaborated that “what Ethiopia wants is to benefit from the dam, without causing harm to others. However, our brothers on the other side should also understand that we do not want to live in darkness.”

Abiy pointed out that Ethiopia has the potential for energy and Sudan for agriculture. “Ethiopia did not have the intention to harm anyone. It would therfore be mutually beneficial to invest on the sectors and prosper together. Our desire has always been to grow together.”

He recalled that the Ethiopian government did not stop Nile River from flowing last year when it carried out the first round filling. Nor does it have the intention to do harm this time.  

“What all need to know is we did not dam Abay River, unlike the other side propagate. We are at the utmost trying to conserve 5 percent of the rain water during the rainy season,”the premier said, adding that “attempting to block this would be difficult to accept.”

He underscored that “if we do not use the water from Lake Tana and the rainfall, then what will we do?”

Abiy finally noted that his government will realize the completion of GERD against all odds as  promised to the public;“ this is irreversible.”