Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced that the long-awaited Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile River is now fully completed. He made this known on Thursday while addressing members of Ethiopia’s parliament in Addis Ababa. The dam, which has been one of Africa’s most controversial infrastructure projects for over a decade, is now set to be officially inaugurated in September 2025.
Construction of the GERD began in 2011, with an estimated cost of $4 billion. Located in Benishangul-Gumuz region, about 500 kilometres northwest of Addis Ababa, the massive dam is now officially Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam. With a height of 175 metres and stretching 1,800 metres in length, the dam is backed by a huge reservoir capable of storing up to 74 billion cubic metres of water.
The prime minister described the completion as a “monumental achievement” for Ethiopia, noting that the GERD project has survived many internal and external challenges. Abiy stated that the dam would play a central role in Ethiopia’s development, not only generating power but also helping to reduce poverty and boosting the country’s plan to become a regional electricity exporter.
Ethiopia has maintained that the GERD is critical for its energy needs, and once fully operational, it is expected to generate over 6,000 megawatts of electricity. This is more than double Ethiopia’s current energy output, providing a much-needed boost to millions of households and industries in the country.
However, despite Ethiopia’s celebration, the dam remains a major diplomatic issue in the Nile Basin region, especially with Egypt and Sudan, who have consistently raised concerns about the impact of the dam on their water supply. Egypt, which heavily depends on the Nile for almost 90 per cent of its freshwater needs, sees the GERD as an existential threat to its national survival.
Over the years, several negotiation rounds have taken place between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan, often with mediation from the African Union and other international partners. However, no final agreement has been reached on how the dam should be filled and operated, especially in the case of drought conditions or reduced water flow downstream.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addressed these concerns during his speech, saying, “Ethiopia remains committed to ensuring that our growth does not come at the expense of our Egyptian and Sudanese brothers and sisters. We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water. Prosperity for one should mean prosperity for all.”
He emphasized that Ethiopia is not interested in harming its neighbours but instead hopes that the dam can become a symbol of regional cooperation and development. Despite Ethiopia’s repeated assurances, Egypt remains wary, insisting that its historical water rights under previous treaties must not be tampered with.
Sudan, on its part, has expressed both support and concern at different times. While the country stands to benefit from regulated water flow and cheaper electricity, Sudanese officials have also raised safety concerns, especially about how the dam is managed and whether proper coordination will be maintained during emergencies.
In 2022, the dam began generating electricity for the first time, a step that was celebrated across Ethiopia. Since then, more turbines have been installed to move the project towards full capacity. Now that construction is complete, the government hopes the GERD will reposition Ethiopia as a key energy hub in Africa.
As Ethiopia moves to commission the GERD in September, the spotlight is once again on how the country will handle relations with Egypt and Sudan. Observers say diplomacy will be key in the coming months, especially as the region faces increasing pressure from climate change, population growth, and rising water demand.
