Tripartite committee discusses impact studies of Ethiopian dam

Talks come three days after Al-Sisi's meeting with the Ethiopian foreign affairs minister

The Tripartite National Committee on the Renaissance Dam (TNCRD) continues its meeting in Cairo on Monday, in order to discuss the initial reports by consultancy firms (BRL and Artelia) tasked with assessing the possible impact of the dam on downstream countries, state-media reported.
The talks come three days after President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's meeting with Workneh Gebeyehu, the Ethiopian foreign affairs minister, on Wednesday. During the meeting, Al-Sisi stressed on the importance of positive interaction with the company responsible for implementing studies on the Renaissance Dam to conclude it as soon as possible.
The tripartite meeting started on Sunday and lasts for four days in presence of experts from three countries; Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, and representatives of the two French consultancy firms tasked with assessing the possible impact of the dam on downstream countries.
According to a statement issued by the committee, the meeting should discuss the initial report and remarks of the three countries on it, and then approving theses remarks to be considered by the consultancy firms while preparing the final report.
The current phase includes the decision how the consultancy firms should work within the countries' commitment to the technical preview and referential conditions, the statement added.
The studies by the French firms, expected to be finalised in August, include the managing of water and hydroelectric resources as well as an assessment of the cross-border environmental, social, and economic impact of the dam.
The Ethiopian Government has started establishing the Renaissance Dam in April 2011, over the Blue Nile, expected to be finished in June. However, Egypt has expressed concerns that the construction of the Renaissance Dam could negatively affect Egypt's share of Nile water.