Ethiopia announces completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

• 11 months ago (2025-07-09)
• David Flin

Africa 369 Hydropower 161

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Ethiopia has announced the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), located on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border.

GERD was launched in 2011, and is the largest hydropower plant in Africa. It began generating electricity in 2022, and is now fully operational, generating over 5 GW. This more than doubles Ethiopia’s power production, potentially turning the country into a net energy exporter. The dam is supported by a reservoir with a storage capacity of 74 bcm.

Ethiopia regards the project as essential for meeting its growing electricity demand. However, the dam is a source of regional tension, with both Sudan and Egypt expressing concerns over its impact on their Nile water supply.

Ethiopia is moving towards the final commissioning phase. The official inauguration of GERD is scheduled for September 2025.