Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt have agreed to present draft proposals within two days regarding the ongoing dispute over the management of the US$5-billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The parties are set to resume negotiations on Tuesday over the controversial Nile hydroelectric dam. 

The GERD has been a contentious issue since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011.

According to news broadcaster Al Jazeera, talks organised by South Africa, which holds the current chairmanship of the African Union, resumed on Sunday after a short suspension – a day after Egypt and Sudan voiced optimism that a deal could be reached.

According to a report by Egypt Independent, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the goal of the renewed talks was to reach an agreement as soon as possible on filling and operating the dam.

Egypt and Sudan view the GERD as a threat to vital water supplies, while Ethiopia considers it crucial for its electrification and development, according to reports.

Sudan has reiterated its commitment to returning to the talks in the spirit of African solidarity and on the basis of the previously agreed agenda and the principles of international law pertaining to equitable use of water resources without causing harm to others, according to a statement.

Ethiopia expects to produce more than 6 000 megawatts from the project in order to advance the country's development. 

Meanwhile, Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for their fresh water, are concerned that the dam might affect their water resources, writes Xinhua news agency.