Filling of GERD Will Go as Per Schedule: Minister Reaffirms

Addis Ababa June 15/2021 (ENA) Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister Sileshi Bekele has reiterated that the filling of the second round of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will go as per the schedule.

Following the Meeting of Eastern Nile Council of Ministers in Addis Ababa today, he said nothing will change with regard to the filling of the dam as it goes along with the construction in the coming rainy season.

“The second round filling will continue and it has nothing do with any other issue. The level    the construction of the dam reaches in the coming rainy season will dictate the filling,” he explained.

He further noted that “this is very clear to all the three riparian countries. Nothing will change from that and we will proceed accordingly.”   

Sudan Water Resources and Irrigation Minister, Yasir Abbas Mohammed said on his part that “Sudan has right from the beginning supported the GERD because it is the right of Ethiopia to make use of water.”

Mohammed stated that this has been the position of Sudan for the last 10 years. “We supported Ethiopia to generate hydropower at the same time to consider the downstream countries,” the minister further elaborated.   

South Sudan Water and Irrigation Minister, Manawa Peter Gatkuoth pointed out that African solution for African problem is the right procedure so as to find lasting agreement about  GERD in a sustainable manner.  

“We are calling on Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia to solve the problem based on this procedure,” he underscored, further adding that the region needs stability as it is the most important thing at this time.

It is to be recalled that Ethiopia completed the first filling of the dam successfully in July 2020 without hurting the downstream countries.