Egypt threatened by water projects for Ethiopia

Egypt threatened halting new water projects being implemented by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile basin without the approval of the basin's countries, and demanded clarifications from Ethiopia in this regard.

Egyptian Minister of Public Works and Water Resources Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zein said that Egypt will wait for a formal reply from Adiss Ababa regarding the new projects implemented the blue Nile basin, pointing out that the agreements of the Nile basin countries requires consultation between the Nile countries regarding any new water projects.

The Ethiopia government has announced last week a project for constructing dams on the Blue Nile that includes 175 projects for irrigation.

The Ethiopia government denied that Egypt contradicts the agreement of Nile basin's countries by implementing Tosheka's Peace Canal projects, confirming that the 2 projects are within Egypt's annual share from water that reaches to 55,5 billion cubic meter.