Egypt on denounced Ethiopia’s completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), warning that the move lacks any legally binding agreement and undermines the water rights of downstream countries.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation issued a statement rejecting what it called “unilateral actions” by Ethiopia and said the dam’s completion violates international law.

The more than $4 billion hydropower project on the Blue Nile has been a long-running source of tension between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced Thursday that the dam, under construction since 2011, is now complete and due for official inauguration in September.

“Egypt firmly rejects Ethiopia’s continued policy of imposing a fait accompli through unilateral actions concerning the Nile River,” the ministry said, accusing Addis Ababa of seeking “water hegemony” instead of cooperation.

Despite 13 years of negotiations, the three countries have failed to reach an agreement on how the dam should operate, particularly regarding water releases during periods of drought. Egypt fears the dam could significantly reduce its share of the Nile’s flow, threatening agriculture and water supplies for its 100 million citizens.

The GERD is expected to generate more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity—doubling Ethiopia’s current output—and play a central role in the country’s energy and development goals.

Egypt said it is continuing efforts to manage its water resources through wastewater treatment, modernised irrigation, and partnerships with other Nile Basin states.

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