Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed standing near the newly launched dam. Image: Abiy Ahmed shared via X.
(The Post News)– Ethiopian authorities have officially inaugurated Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam. The massive project is set to provide energy to millions of Ethiopians while deepening a rift with downstream Egypt that has unsettled the region. It has been a source of tension between Egypt and Sudan, who are concerned about water security since the water facility is located next to the Nile River.
Hydroelectric Megaproject Aims to Prosper and Electrify Ethiopia
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the hydroelectric megaproject was built to prosper and electrify the entire region while changing the history of Black people and absolutely not to harm its brothers. “Completing the GERD and ensuring a historic milestone was my final prayer; it was my ultimate wish,” said Ahmed. “The End of the History of Kusmena”
The Ethiopian leader says Addis Ababa will use the energy to improve Ethiopians’ access to electricity and export surplus power to the region. They see the $5 billion Grand Renaissance Dam as central to their economic ambitions.
The dam’s power has gradually increased since the first turbine was turned on in 2022, reaching its maximum capacity of 5000 MW. That puts it among the 20 biggest hydroelectric megaprojects in the world. Ethiopia’s downstream neighbors, however, have watched the project advance with dread.
Egypt, which built its own Aswan High Dam on the Nile in the 1960s, fears the GERD could restrict its water supply during periods of drought and could lead to the construction of other upstream dams. Egypt, with a population of about 108 million, depends on the Nile for about 90% of its fresh water.
Sudan has joined Egypt’s calls for legally binding agreements on the dam’s filling and operation but could also benefit from better flood management and access to cheap energy.
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