Egypt, Ethiopia leaders discuss disputed Nile dam in Russia

Leaders of Egypt and Ethiopia met in Russia on the sidelines of Africa summit on Wednesday to discuss the dispute over the hydropower dam on the Nile river which has been a cause of tension between the countries. Reportedly, the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had "delivered a message" to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed about the dam, construction of which will soon be complete. According to reports, the meeting that lasted nearly 45 minutes, took place in "a positive and healthy atmosphere". However, further details of the meeting is yet to be known. 

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The diplomatic deadlock

There has been a long-running diplomatic standoff over building and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has heightened the stress between the African countries. Egypt worries that the construction of the dam will worsen the scarcity of water in the area. President Sisi had earlier said that both leaders were willing to discuss the issue and hope to solve it anyhow. Both the leaders have also spoken on the day when the Ethiopian Prime Minister won a Nobel Peace Prize. According to Egyptian presidency spokesman Bassam Rady, the main concern of the talk will be to overcome any obstacle in the negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. 

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Ethiopia: the source of the Nile river

The source of Blue Nile is Ethiopia which further joins the White Nile in Khartoum and then moves to Egypt. Even though Egypt is concerned about the new dam hindering the already scarce water situation in the country, Ethiopia says that the dam will not disrupt the flow of the river. Furthermore, the Grand Renaissance Hydroelectric Project being developed on the Blue Nile tributary in northern Ethiopia will also be the largest hydroelectric power station in Africa. In addendum to stress between Egypt and Ethiopia, Sudan has also hoped to buy electricity produced by the dam.

The Eygptian government had plans to overcome water poverty by 2037 by building huge seawater desalination plants and sewage triple treatment plants worth 900 billion Egyptian pounds. Reportedly, Egypt has already spent 200 billion pounds on the plan. 

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(With inputs from agencies)