Egypt and Sudan are keen on finalizing technical studies of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as soon as possible in order to protect the two nations from any potential risks, said Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hossam Moghazi.

Addressing the first meeting of the 56th session of the Permanent Joint Technical Commission for Nile Waters, Moghazi voiced Egypt's appreciation to Sudan's role in the dam's negotiations to get viewpoint closer and reach a real benefit for the three countries.

He also pointed out to the major developments, which were witnessed by the file of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.

He also said that two meetings were held in Khartoum that were attended by ministers of water and foreign ministers from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia with the aim of clarifying concepts and pushing forward technical path concerned with finalizing studies recommended by the international panel for experts about the water and environmental effect of the project on Egypt and Sudan.

He further referred to the Declaration of Principles agreement, which was signed in Khartoum in 2015, adding that this pact is considered an umbrella that includes the positive atmosphere between the three countries to solve the Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam crisis.

It is important to provide support from all sides in order to reach an agreement that can attain welfare for the three countries, he added.

In 2013, Ethiopia began diverting the Blue Nile to build the 6,000 MW dam which, with a capacity of 74 billion cubic metres, will be Africa's largest when completed in 2017. The costs of the construction of the 1,780-metre-long and 145-metre high dam have been estimated at $4.2 billion.

From the start, Cairo strongly protested the construction of the dam. It is concerned that the dam could reduce its quota of 55.5 billion cubic meters of the Nile water, further increasing its water shortages. Ethiopia however maintains that the dam is primarily built to produce electricity and will not harm Sudan and Egypt.

Source: MENA