Ethiopia Launches Africa’s Largest Hydroelectric Dam Amid Regional Tensions

TDT | Addis Ababa

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Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Tuesday, marking the continent’s largest hydroelectric project. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the project as a “great achievement for all black people,” despite ongoing tensions with downstream neighbour Egypt.

The dam, built on a tributary of the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, has reached a height of 170 metres (550 feet) and spans nearly two kilometres (1.2 miles), according to Italian construction firm Webuild. The $4-billion project is designed to hold 74 billion cubic metres of water and generate 5,150 megawatts of electricity—more than double Ethiopia’s current power capacity.

“GERD will be remembered as a great achievement not only for Ethiopia, but for all black people,” said Abiy at the opening ceremony, which was attended by leaders from the region, including Kenyan President William Ruto and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. He added, “I invite all black people to visit the dam. It demonstrates that we can achieve anything we plan.”

For Ethiopia, the GERD is more than an energy project—it is a unifying symbol in a nation challenged by internal conflicts.

However, the dam has been a source of long-standing diplomatic tension with Egypt, which relies on the Nile for 97 percent of its water. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called the dam an “existential threat” and pledged to protect the country’s water security through international law.

Abiy reassured the region, stating, “For downstream countries, Ethiopia has accomplished GERD as a shining example. It will not affect your development at all.”