ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia has started filling Grand Renaissance, a giant hydroelectric dam it is building on the Blue Nile, its water minister said on Wednesday, a day after talks with Sudan and Egypt over the structure became deadlocked.

“The construction of the dam and the filling of the water go hand in hand,” Seleshi Bekele said in comments broadcast on a television.

The talks have been underway for eleven days, and eleven observers have attended it including the African Union. Negotiators from the three countries are working on a report to be submitted to the African Union and their respective leaders.

“The trilateral negotiation on GERD that was happening for the last 11 days in the presence of 11 observers and augmented experts ended last night. Although there were progresses no breakthrough deal is made. Today we prepare reports to AU and our respective leaders...,” Bekele said.

According to Bekele, the three countries will go back to negotiation again after the African Union reviewed their reports.

“The negotiation is expected to continue, after the review by the president of AU, AU Bureau members and the leaders of the three countries, in accordance with their instructions,” he said. — Agencies