Egypt keen Renaissance Dam studies be finalized shortly

Irrigation Minister Hossam Moghazi stressed on Monday Egypt's keenness to quickly accomplish the technical studies of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

The move goes in line with a road map agreed upon by the irrigation ministers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia in their meeting in 2014 in Khartoum and the document of principles signed by the three presidents in March 2015, the minister said.

He also asserted Egypt's insistence to increase the number of spillways in the dam to guarantee the continued flow of water, especially in the emergency times, to the downstream countries: Egypt and Sudan.

In statements following his meeting with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Moghazi said that the president ordered to step up the studies on the dam after two consultant offices were chosen.

The minister added that he presented to the president Egypt's proposal on increasing the spillways of the dam during a technical experts meeting held in Ethiopia.

The dam has only two spillways to allow the passing of water and four openings to generate electricity. Egypt, however, demands that the openings be increased to facilitate the flow of water.

Source: MENA