Powers back study on dam

EGYPT, Sudan and Ethiopia commissioned studies into the environmental and economic impact of a $4 billion (R56bn) dam on the Nile that Ethiopia aimed to make the centrepiece of its bid to become Africa’s biggest power exporter. The 6 000 megawatt Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), due for completion next year, has become a bone of contention between Ethiopia and Egypt. Addis Ababa complained that Cairo had pressured donors and lenders to withhold funding for the project, while Egypt had sought assurances the dam would not significantly cut the flow of water to it. The Middle East News Agency said the three countries signed contracts yesterday tasking French firms BRL and Artelia with conducting studies into the dam’s impact. – Reuters

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