Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hosam Moghazi said on Saturday that agreements would be signed with new consultancy firms in February to conduct technical studies on the Ethiopian dam.

New offers are expected to be received before end of this month and contracts may be signed by mid-February, the minister said during a visit by Prime Minister Hisham Ismail to Damietta Port.

The minister noted cooperation between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the file, saying the second phase of the negotiations would start after signing the contracts.

The deadline set for receiving two offers from French firms was extended to end of month, the minister said.

The experts from the three countries are scheduled to meet within three to four days to study the offers.