ADDIS ABABA- The first time electricity generation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been carried out in accordance with international treaties and agreements the three negotiating countries Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been reached upon, informed sources disclosed.
International Water Resource Advisor Fekiahmed Negash said the power generation clearly exposed the false accusation of the downstream countries as the dam significantly disrupts flow of the water.
The Declaration of Principles (Dop) that the three countries signed in Khartoum, Sudan doesn’t state Ethiopia has no right to generate power from the dam and the recent false accusations by the downstream countries is a known tactic.
Noting Ethiopia goes a long distance for a win-win approach with genuine, scientific and logical evidence, the expert highlighted that the downstream countries keep opposing the project, knowing the fact that the dam will not harm them.
The power generation and filling of the dam will not obstruct natural flow of the water; the project is all about development and lightening up millions of homes which are living without access to electricity in the 21st century.
Approached by the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs International trans-boundary Affairs Advisor Ambassador Ibrahim Idris noted that the power generation is a huge achievement for Ethiopia.
“Sudan and Egypt portray the dam as an existential threat to them which is completely wrong and far from the fact.” The negotiation which was held for the past ten years on how to operate and fill the dam is challenging due to the sneaky move of the downstream countries.
Sudan and Egypt’s intention is by any means prolonging the operation of the GERD if possible halting the construction.
It is all about halting Ethiopia’s development process. All the accusations were to secure their supremacy over the resources referring to the colonial treaty signed between the two countries which excluded Ethiopia, the diplomat elaborated.
“Ethiopia did all the best passing through diplomatic challenges coming from the downstream countries and also from international actors that have been exerted on it.
During each meeting and negotiation they come up with new ideas mainly to convince Ethiopia not to proceed with the construction and others.” While initiating the production of the firstphase 375 MW of electricity last Sunday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) clarified that the dam will not obstruct the natural flow of the water and the commencement of the power generation doesn’t impose any harm in the downstream countries.
“This is good news for our continent and the downstream countries with whom we aspire to work together.” However, both Sudan and Egypt keep on opposing the power generation and falsely accusing Ethiopia for the ‘unilateral’ measure thereby violating the Declaration DoP that the three countries inked in 2015.
BY HAILE DEMEKE
The 22 February 2022
