The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will extend Egypt’s ability to obtain electricity from Ethiopia.

Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Berhane Gebre-Christos told a two-day forum held at Bahr Dar University that the dam, which is being constructed to generate electricity, will not harm Egypt. Instead, it will allow Egypt, which has been suffering from electricity shortages, to obtain electricity from Ethiopia.

Because of electricity shortages, Egypt has experienced several power cuts nationwide. The Egyptian government earlier announced plans to boost the country’s electricity supply by importing natural gas and diesel, as well as by beginning construction on three new power plants.

Bahr Dar University Forum

The Forum held at Bahr Dar University provided an opportunity for local prominent intellectuals and professionals to discuss the legal rights of Ethiopia to use Nile water. Participants included water experts, representatives from government universities, and senior officials of the federal and regional governments, MPs, and civil activists.

According to the Ethiopian government, the main theme of the discussions were how best Ethiopia could maintain sustainable and equitable utilisation and management of the Nile water, as well as consider the role of governments, African organisations and riparian state scientists in encouraging deepening cooperation of the Nile Basin states.