Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a massive hydroelectric project on the Blue Nile River.
The dam, launched in 2011 with a $4 billion budget, is Africa’s largest hydroelectric plant and a significant source of national pride.
Abiy Ahmed emphasized the dam’s potential to benefit not just Ethiopia but also its downstream neighbors, Egypt and Sudan, saying, “To our neighbors downstream – Egypt and Sudan – our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity”.
He extended an invitation to both countries to attend the dam’s official inauguration in September.
The GERD has been a point of contention between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan, with the latter two countries expressing concerns about the dam’s impact on their water supply.
Egypt relies heavily on the Nile for its freshwater needs, and a reduction in water flow could affect its agricultural sector.
Sudan shares similar concerns, given its dependence on the Nile for irrigation and other purposes.
Despite these concerns, Abiy Ahmed expressed Ethiopia’s willingness to engage constructively with Egypt and Sudan. “We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water,” he said.
The dam is expected to generate over 5,000 megawatts of power, more than doubling Ethiopia’s current electricity output and helping to address the country’s significant energy needs.
Currently, around half of Ethiopia’s 130 million population lacks access to electricity.
