Egypt protests Ethiopia plans to fill mega Nile dam for third year

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba, Ethiopia. FILE PHOTO | AFP 

Egypt said it had protested to the UN Security Council Friday against Ethiopian plans to fill the reservoir of a controversial Nile dam for a third year without agreement from downstream countries.

The multi-billion dollar Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) on the Blue Nile is set to be the largest hydroelectric scheme in Africa but has been at the centre of a dispute with Egypt and Sudan ever since work began in 2011.