Dev’t of Abay River Matter of Survival for Ethiopia- President Sahle-Work

Addis Ababa, April 3, 2021 (Walta) – President Sahle-Work Zewde said developing Abay River water resources is a matter of survival for Ethiopia and called for cooperation with neighboring countries for fair and reasonable utilization.

Talking at the 10th founding anniversary of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam yesterday, the president said Ethiopia has been denied the right to develop projects in the basin, which has great potential to its national wealth, due to domestic and external challenges.

Abay River contributes to Ethiopia’s two-third surface water resource, Sahle-Work noted, stressing that “developing this basin is a matter of survival for Ethiopia.”

According to ENA, the president expressed her belief that developments in the basin will eradicate Ethiopia’s poverty and benefit the downstream countries.

She, therefore, called on the neighboring countries to cooperate for fair and reasonable use of the resource.

The president pointed out that Ethiopia is making preparations to proceed with the second phase filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.