The latest talks to resolve the dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over the future of a giant hydropower project on the River Nile are due to resume in Washington DC later on Monday.
Ethiopia’s mega-dam has caused a row with Egypt which some fear could lead to war, and the US is now helping to mediate.
Egypt fears the project will allow Ethiopia to control the flow of the Nile which Egypt relies on for 90% of its water.
Read:Nile dam dispute: Egypt needs water, Ethiopia seeks electricity, Sudan wants both
At the center of the dispute is the speed with which Ethiopia fills the mega-dam.
This will affect the flow downstream as the longer it takes to fill the reservoir the less impact there will be on the level of the river.
Ethiopia wants to do it in six years but Egypt has proposed a longer period.
The latest round of talks, last week, ended in deadlock.
Read:Troubled waters for Egypt as Ethiopia pushes Nile dam
Last year a deadline of 15 January was set to solve the long-standing impasse.
The next step will be for the water ministers, along with their countries’ foreign ministers, to try and come to a deal before the deadline.
If they still can’t agree by 15 January, the negotiators will request another mediator, or refer the matter to the heads of states.
Source:Â bbc.com