Addis Ababa, November 5, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s dams and water-development projects are designed to promote shared prosperity and benefit downstream countries, rather than threaten their water security, Minister of Water and Energy Engineer Habtamu Itefa said, urging Egypt to support the projects instead of opposing Ethiopia’s efforts to harness its water resources.
In an exclusive interview with Fana Media Corporation, the Minister said Ethiopia’s water infrastructure serves broader regional interests by regulating river flows, supporting irrigation, generating electricity and creating opportunities for economic cooperation among countries sharing transboundary rivers.
He emphasized that Ethiopia’s development of its water resources should not be viewed as a threat to downstream nations, arguing that dams can turn shared rivers into instruments of regional development and prosperity.
Referring to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Engineer Habtamu said its construction has demonstrated the benefits of water infrastructure for downstream countries, particularly Sudan, through the regulation of the Abbay River’s flow.
He explained that regulated flows create more favorable conditions for downstream water management, while also reducing the risks associated with seasonal flooding. The dam has therefore opened opportunities for countries downstream to make more productive use of the river, he said.
The Minister stressed that Ethiopia does not intend to block the flow of the Abbay to downstream countries, maintaining that the river should serve the interests of all riparian states rather than be treated as the exclusive property of any one country.
He said Ethiopia, with its growing population and development needs, must harness its water resources to expand irrigation, strengthen food production, generate hydropower and improve livelihoods. Dams are essential to managing seasonal water availability and supporting these development priorities.
He further noted that Ethiopia’s hydropower development contributes to regional integration by enabling electricity supplies to neighboring countries, demonstrating how investments in water resources can generate benefits beyond national borders.
Against this backdrop, Engineer Habtamu said Egypt should support Ethiopia’s water-development projects and recognize their potential contribution to shared regional prosperity instead of seeking to obstruct them.
He maintained that cooperation over transboundary rivers requires countries to recognize one another’s development rights and work toward arrangements that allow shared resources to benefit all basin communities.
The Minister reiterated that Ethiopia’s approach is to transform its water resources into a foundation for development and regional cooperation, stressing that the country’s progress in this regard can create opportunities for downstream nations as well.