The Tripartite National Committee on the Renaissance Dam (TNCRD) finalised its meeting in Cairo on Wednesday, after a four-day meeting started on Sunday in the presence of experts from three countries: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
The meeting approved the schedule and mechanisms for exchanging data, information, and previous studies needed by the two French consultancy firms—BRL and Artelia—tasked with assessing the possible impact of the dam on downstream countries.
The dates of field visits by experts to dams and tanks from the three countries were also approved by the committee in the meeting. These trips include the High Dam in Egypt, and the Merwi, Jebel Aulia, Roseires, and Sennar dams in Sudan. Deadlines of presenting and reviewing the results of these visits are to be discussed, local media reported.
According to a statement issued by the committee, these field visits target collecting data about dam systems along the Nile River and the relation between them and storage phases, especially the Ethiopian Dam.
Studies aim to put guidelines for the storage bases in order not to negatively affect the water flow in the Blue Nile and the dams along the Nile.
The Ethiopian government had started establishing the Renaissance Dam in April 2011 on the Blue Nile, and it is 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.
