The meetings of the Tripartite National Committee of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam kicked off in Cairo on Wednesday in the presence 12 experts and officials from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and the delegates of the two international companies tasked with conducting technical studies on the dam.
Hossam Moghazi, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the meeting is of great importance to the three Nile Basin countries, especially in view of the implementation of the recommendations included in the final report of the international expert commission.
In a speech during the opening session of the meeting, Moghazi said: "Let me note that we are late in implementing the roadmap agreed upon since August 2014, as we should have finished the studies by now. But we hope to make up for that in the near future, as long as we have the political will."
"Egypt has never been and will not be against the development of the Nile Basin countries, as long as the goal is to achieve common and sustainable development based on the river, and an integrated management of the water resources in the framework of cooperation, for the prosperity of our peoples, without harming any party," Moghazi said.
He stressed that Egypt will continue to support the development of the Nile Basin region, upholding the rights of its people.
In remarks on the sidelines of the meeting, Moghazi added that the ministers of water resources of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia will meet several times during the current month to sign a contract with two foreign companies tasked with conducting studies on the dam.
A major celebration in Cairo or the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa will be held after the contract is signed.
He pointed out that the two companies are supposed to conduct studies on the Blue Nile behind the Renaissance Dam and the economic, social and environmental impact of the project.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
