"Visit to Ethiopia doesn't mean Egypt agrees on dam project":-Egypt's Irrigation Minister

September 25, 2014 | ahramonline

Irrigation minister visits dam's construction site, the first by Egyptian official

Egypt's irrigation minister has stressed that his visit to Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam doesn't mean that Egypt agrees with the ongoing project, Al-Ahram's Arabic News Website reported.

Hossam Moghazy had a tour with his Ethiopian and Sudanese counterparts at the site of the dam on Monday, the first by an Egyptian official since construction began in April 2011.

The dam has been a source of concern for the Egyptian government, which fears the downstream project will affect its access to the Nile, its main source of potable water.

Meanwhile, Moghazy confirmed that Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt have accepted the terms of an international consultancy team to conduct two studies on the dam's potential impact.

He confirmed that Ethiopia gave Egypt five previously requested studies on the dam.

The next meeting for the tripartite committee will take place in Cairo on 21-22 October, he said.