Ethiopia denies agreement with Egypt to store water behind new dam

The Ethiopian Minister of Irrigation, Water and Electricity has insisted that no agreement has been reached with Egypt to store water behind its new dam on the River Nile, Rassd.com reported on Friday.

“The issue of filling the dam is part of the construction process,” Motuma Mikasa told Radio Fana. “The information released by the Egyptian media that we have agreed with Egypt to fill the dam is false.”

He stressed that the construction process of the dam is ongoing and it would be full according to the timetable already set out.

Read: Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan reach deal on controversial Nile dam

He added that the companies contracted by Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to carry out studies regarding the controversial project will start work in February. He was at pains to point out that the studies would not have any effect on the progress made in building the dam.

The invitation sent by the Ethiopian foreign ministry to its Egyptian and Sudanese counterparts to visit the project site is, said Mikasa, evidence of Ethiopia’s goodwill and confidence-building efforts.

Read: A meeting of the Sudanese and Egyptian presidents will be perfunctory