An anonymous official at the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation told youm7 Thursday that Egypt will announce on Saturday the date of signing contacts between the three countries of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on one side and two European consultant companies, that tasked to conduct studies on the possible negative impact of building the controversial Renaissance dam of Ethiopia on Nile downstream countries.
Minister of Water resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Atti has denied media reports claimed that the contracts will be signed on Sept. 19 and 20 in Sudan.
Since May 2011, Cairo has voiced its concern that the dam could reduce the country’s annual share of more than 56 billion cubic meters of Nile water. Addis Ababa, however, has claimed that the dam is necessary for its development, and will not harm downstream countries.
