Ethiopia has officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, marking the completion of Africa’s largest hydropower dam.
The dam, which cost around $5 billion and took 14 years to build, has an installed capacity of about 5,150 megawatts. This capacity is expected to more than double Ethiopia’s current electricity generation, ease frequent domestic power shortages, and position the country as a major regional energy exporter.
Stretching nearly 1.8 kilometres across the Blue Nile and standing more than 140 metres tall, the GERD was financed largely through local resources and public contributions, making it a symbol of national pride and self-reliance. Officials say the project will expand electrification to rural areas, power industries, and boost economic growth.
The launch has also revived long-standing tensions with Egypt and Sudan. Egypt, which relies on the Nile for about 90% of its fresh water, has warned that Ethiopia’s unilateral filling and operation of the dam threatens its water security. Sudan has expressed mixed views, raising concerns but also noting potential benefits like flood control and cheaper electricity. Ethiopia maintains the project will not harm downstream nations and insists it is exercising its sovereign right to development.
Several neighbouring countries have shown interest in purchasing electricity from Ethiopia, which could turn the GERD into a regional energy hub. However, experts caution that full output will be phased in gradually and stress the need for regional cooperation to manage water resources, especially in drought years.
Ethiopia’s leaders hailed the commissioning as a “new era” for the country, while calls grow for renewed negotiations to reach a binding agreement on the dam’s long-term management.
