CAIRO, Mar 9 (Aswat Masriya) - The announcement of the name of the international consultancy firm which will conduct studies on the effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is delayed, state news agency MENA reported.

The announcement was due today but the delay comes at the request of the tripartite committee of experts from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, in order to "collect important data" on the firms over the next few days.      

A total of four consultancy firms presented bids to the three countries, which evaluated the bids separately. Afterwards, the trio discussed the proposals in talks in Khartoum on March 5 to 8, attended by the countries' irrigation and foreign ministers.

At the end of the talks, Sudan was tasked with gathering data and responding to any inquiries any of the three countries may have on the firms.

Ethiopia began construction of the hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile in 2011, raising concerns in Egypt that this will affect its share of Nile water. As it stands, Egypt receives the largest share of the river's water and this water source is vital for a country with a population of 87.9 million.

The consultancy firm will study potential impacts the construction may have on downstream countries Egypt and Sudan, particularly on their shares of water.

The results of the firm's study will be binding. 

Upon completion, the 4 billion dollar dam will be Africa's largest dam. It aims to generate cheap electricity to countries as far away from the Nile basin as South Africa and Morocco.

After their talks earlier this month, the three countries reached a draft agreement governing cooperation between them to benefit from the eastern Nile water and the dam.