Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has officially declared the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), signaling the final stage of the ambitious $4.2 billion project that has stirred regional tensions for over a decade. Abiy confirmed that the dam will be inaugurated in September, a momentous occasion that has attracted global attention.
In a diplomatic message last week, Abiy sought to ease long-standing concerns from Egypt and Sudan, the two downstream nations that have been apprehensive about the dam’s effect on the Nile’s water flow. “The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is now complete, and we are preparing for its official inauguration,” he stated confidently. “While there are those who believe it should be disrupted before that moment, we reaffirm our commitment: the dam will be inaugurated.”
Abiy reframed the dam’s significance, calling it a symbol of regional cooperation rather than a source of conflict. “To our neighbors downstream, Egypt and Sudan, our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity,” he asserted. “It is a symbol of regional cooperation and mutual benefit.”
The GERD has been a flashpoint in Ethiopian relations with Egypt, which relies on the Nile for 90% of its freshwater needs. Egypt has long voiced concerns that the dam, which spans the Blue Nile, could jeopardize its access to water. Sudan has also expressed reservations about the dam’s safety and its possible impact on the country’s infrastructure.
In an effort to address these fears, Abiy assured that the dam will not harm Egypt’s water security, citing Egypt’s Aswan High Dam, which has not lost any water due to the GERD. “We remain committed to ensuring that our growth does not come at the expense of our Egyptian and Sudanese brothers and sisters,” he said.
Abiy emphasized Ethiopia’s belief in “shared progress, shared energy, and shared water,” framing the GERD as a catalyst for regional development. “Prosperity for one should mean prosperity for all,” he noted. He also extended an open invitation to Egypt, Sudan, and all Nile Basin countries to join Ethiopia in celebrating the dam’s inauguration, underscoring the project’s potential to benefit the entire region.
The GERD, located near the Sudanese border, is expected to generate over 6,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling Ethiopia’s electricity generation capacity and positioning the country as a potential power exporter within the Horn of Africa.
