Ethiopia to defend its dams at UN conference
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Fanamc
Ethiopian Water Minister Habtamu Itefa accused Egyptian officials of favouring protests over technical arguments on Ethiopian dams. Addis Ababa plans to present evidence at the UN water conference in Abu Dhabi that its projects can benefit neighbouring countries, according to Fana Media Corporation.
Ethiopia will present technical arguments defending its dams and water projects at the forthcoming UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa told Fana Media Corporation.
The minister accused Egyptian officials of favouring public statements over technical arguments when challenging Ethiopia’s water development. He rejected the claim that Ethiopia had promised to provide more water after the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam began operating, calling it false.
Habtamu Itefa said Ethiopian projects did not deprive downstream countries of their share of the Nile and could generate shared benefits through irrigation and hydropower. He cited electricity cooperation with Kenya, Djibouti, Sudan and Tanzania, according to Fana Media Corporation.
The conference will bring together specialists in water policy and diplomacy, whom the minister said were capable of assessing technical arguments on transboundary resources rather than being guided by political statements, he added.
