KHARTOUM, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Tuesday reiterated his country's adherence to reaching a legal and binding deal on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

"The GERD remains on the top priorities of the transitional government," said Hamdok in a speech to the Sudanese people on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, the Islamic feast of sacrifice.

"Despite the Ethiopian government's announcement on the completion of the second filling of the GERD in a continued unilateral action for the second time, yet Sudan remains adherent to reaching a legal and binding agreement," noted Hamdok.

He stressed that Sudan would spare no effort until a binding deal is reached in line with international law and in a manner that preserves Sudan's national interests.

On Monday, the Ethiopian government announced that it had achieved its goal in the second filling of the GERD, saying it plans to start electricity production from the dam within months.

Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been in talks for years, sponsored by the African Union, over the technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.

Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the dam project, while Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for their freshwater, are concerned that the dam might affect their share of the water resources. Enditem

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