Faith Nyasuguta
Ethiopia has officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric power project, marking a milestone for the country’s energy ambitions while reigniting long-standing tensions with downstream neighbors Egypt and Sudan.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed presided over a grand ceremony at the dam’s site in Guba, Benishangul-Gumuz region, as the project reached its maximum generating capacity of 5,150 megawatts. The $5 billion project, located on the Blue Nile, now ranks among the world’s 20 largest hydroelectric dams, producing about a quarter of the capacity of China’s massive Three Gorges Dam.
An Ethiopian fighter jet soared low over cascading waters during the event, while dignitaries – including the presidents of Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya – joined Abiy beneath a giant Ethiopian flag to celebrate the achievement.
“Built to Prosper, Not to Harm”
In his address, Abiy framed the GERD as a symbol of African progress and unity.
“To our brothers in Sudan and Egypt: Ethiopia built the dam to prosper, to electrify the entire region, and to change the history of black people. It is absolutely not to harm its brothers,” he declared.
The prime minister emphasized that Ethiopia’s priority is to improve domestic access to electricity, which remains scarce for much of its 120 million population, while exporting surplus power to neighbors. Already, Ethiopia supplies energy to countries like Djibouti and Sudan, with ambitions to expand further.
For locals, the project has brought tangible benefits. Sultan Abdulahi Hassan, a farmer living near the dam, said: “We now have refrigerators. We can drink cold water. We now use electricity for everything.”
A Source of Pride & Conflict
Since its construction began in 2011, the GERD has been celebrated by Ethiopians as a national project of resilience, funded almost entirely without foreign aid. The country’s central bank covered 91% of costs, while citizens contributed the rest through bonds and donations. For many Ethiopians, especially amid years of internal conflict, the dam represents unity and national pride.
But for Egypt, the dam remains an existential concern. With a population of 108 million, Egypt depends on the Nile for about 90% of its fresh water. Officials fear that during periods of drought, the GERD could reduce vital water flow, threatening agriculture and livelihoods.
Egyptian authorities have long argued that the project violates historic water treaties dating back to the colonial era. On Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf stressed that Cairo would “exercise its right to take all appropriate measures to defend and protect the interests of the Egyptian people.”
Sudan, meanwhile, has taken a more ambivalent position. While Khartoum has echoed Egypt’s calls for a legally binding agreement on filling and operation, it also acknowledges the potential benefits – including improved flood management and cheaper energy imports.
Cautious Optimism
Ethiopia began filling the reservoir in 2020, conducting the process gradually over wet seasons. Independent studies suggest that so far, water flow to Egypt and Sudan has not been significantly disrupted, thanks in part to favorable rainfall and measured filling.
Government officials also note that the reservoir – which covers an area larger than Greater London – could regulate water levels, easing droughts and floods for downstream countries.
Still, the lack of a binding trilateral agreement has left Egypt uneasy, with fears that the GERD could inspire other upstream nations to follow Ethiopia’s example.
A Vision For The Future
For Ethiopia, the GERD symbolizes more than just power. It represents a new chapter in economic development, with the promise of industrial growth, rural electrification, and even expansion into industries like bitcoin mining.
Yet challenges remain. While urban electrification stood at 94% in 2022, only 55% of the population had access to electricity overall, largely due to weak transmission networks in rural areas. For many villages, the lights are still out.
Water researcher Mekdelawit Messay summed up the project’s significance: “It has been a banner to rally under, and it shows what we can achieve when unified.”
As Ethiopia powers up Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam, the nation celebrates a historic engineering triumph and a bold step toward energy independence. But beneath the pride, the GERD remains a flashpoint on the Nile – a river that binds, yet divides. Whether it becomes a bridge for regional cooperation or a source of lasting conflict may define the Horn of Africa’s future.
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