Egypt wants the UN Security Council to push for Ethiopia to enter into a binding agreement within the next six months over the filling and operation of Ethiopia’s dam on the Blue Nile.
A decade of negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have failed to reach a final agreement.
Egypt – which almost entirely relies on the Nile for its water supply – wants Ethiopia to guarantee a specific volume of water. The new hydroelectric dam will supply 65 million Ethiopians with power and the country says it’s vital for its development.
The UN Security Council is due to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam later on Thursday.
A draft resolution by Tunisia and seen by AP urges Ethiopia “to refrain from continuing to unilaterally fill” the dam’s reservoir and calls on Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia “to refrain from making any statements, or taking any action that may jeopardize the negotiation process”.
It also says the deal must ensure “Ethiopia’s ability to generate hydropower while preventing the inflicting of significant harm on the water security of downstream states”.
