Ethiopia Kicks Off Africa's Largest USD4.5B Hydropower Dam

(MENAFN) Ethiopia officially commissioned the $4.5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Tuesday, marking a milestone in Africa’s energy infrastructure with the continent’s largest hydroelectric installation now operational.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed presided over the high-profile launch of the massive dam on the Blue Nile, an event that brought together regional leaders and international dignitaries. He described the project as a source of national pride and a powerful symbol of Ethiopia’s future.

Construction of GERD began in 2011 under the administration of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Designed to produce 5,150 megawatts of electricity, the dam is expected to alleviate Ethiopia’s longstanding power shortages while boosting energy exports to neighboring countries.

Ethiopia has emphasized that the dam was financed entirely with domestic resources, calling it a landmark achievement in national self-reliance.

However, the project has been a source of deep tension with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan, both of which have repeatedly voiced alarm over potential threats to their water supplies. Talks between the three countries have stalled for years without a binding agreement on water flow management.

Despite ongoing diplomatic tensions, Addis Ababa maintains that the GERD will deliver significant advantages beyond its borders, portraying it as both a unifying national project and a catalyst for enhanced regional cooperation that will positively impact downstream nations.

The Blue Nile, which originates in Ethiopia, supplies the majority of the Nile River’s water — a lifeline for millions in Egypt and Sudan.

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