Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has noted that the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam is complete. Considered Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam, the multi-billion-dollar mega-dam is now awaiting inauguration. The prime minister noted that the dam will be officially inaugurated in September. The long-awaited dam was launched in 2011 with a $4 billion budget stretching 1.8 kilometers wide and 145 meters high. Addis Ababa says it is vital for its electrification programme but it has been a source of tensions with downstream nations. Nations such as Egypt and Sudan are concerned that it will affect their water supply. Speaking in parliament, Abiy said GERD “is now complete, and we are preparing for its official inauguration. To our neighbors downstream – Egypt and Sudan – our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity,” he added. Furthermore, he noted that the energy and development it will generate stand to uplift not only Ethiopia.
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Africa’s Largest Hydroelectric Project: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Nears Completion
The Significance of Africa’s Largest Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is of major significance to not only Ethiopia but to Africa as a continent. Ethiopia first began generating electricity at the project, located in the northwest of the country around 30 km from the border with Sudan, in February 2022. At full capacity the huge dam can hold as much as 74 billion cubic meters of water. Moreover, it could generate more than 5,000 megawatts of power — more than double Ethiopia’s current output. The East African country is the second most populous on the continent. Its rapidly growing population is currently estimated at 130 million and has growing electricity needs.
Around half the population lives without electricity, according to estimates earlier this year by the World Bank. Despite its significance, the dam has often faced opposition from other nations. Egypt and Sudan have voiced concerns about GERD’s operation without a three-way agreement. They fear that it could threaten their access to vital Nile waters. Negotiations have often failed to make a breakthrough. Egypt, which is already suffering from severe water scarcity, sees the dam as an existential threat because it relies on the Nile for 97 percent of its water needs. However, Abiy said Addis Ababa is “willing to engage constructively”, adding that the project will “not come at the expense” of either Egypt or Sudan.
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Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) 94% Complete; Last Concrete to be Poured in September 2024
