Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), currently nearing completion, could be inaugurated within six months. Located in the Guba district of the Benishangul Gumuz region, the dam now holds 74 billion cubic meters of water.
The Prime Minister made this statement in response to a question from Member of Parliament Ato Mohamed Ahmed during a regular parliamentary session on March 20, 2025. Ato Mohamed, referring to the dam as a “transgenerational project,” expressed concerns about the implications of global changes on the completion of the dam and the ongoing negotiations regarding its construction.
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In his response, Prime Minister Abiy reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to “discussions and dialogue” concerning the dam, calling it “the pride of Africa.” He expressed Ethiopia’s willingness to host Egyptian officials if they wished to observe the dam’s progress. Abiy also addressed accusations that he had made promises to Egyptian President Sisi, stating that he had assured Egypt that once the dam is full, it would not impact the flow from Egypt’s Aswan Dam.
Abiy further explained that the dam’s goal is to produce energy, not to harm downstream countries like Egypt. He emphasized the interconnectedness of the two nations’ fates, stating that Ethiopia’s droughts affect the water levels of the Nile, which in turn impacts Egypt. He reassured Egyptian officials that the dam would not harm them and cited Ethiopia’s efforts to combat drought through initiatives like cloud seeding and “green footprints.”
Despite the suspension of negotiations with Egypt and Sudan, Abiy reiterated the importance of working together for mutual benefit. He highlighted that the GERD was built without any foreign aid or loans, and despite numerous challenges, including the difficulties of transporting materials to the site and external pressures, the dam’s construction has been a significant achievement.
Looking ahead, Abiy hinted that the dam could be inaugurated within the next six months, with preparations still ongoing due to the region’s hot climate and the need for winter rains. He projected that the dam’s completion would be historic by the beginning of the following year. Originally, the GERD was designed to generate 5,250 megawatts of power, and as of December 2023, Ethiopia’s Electricity Service had contributed about 50% to the country’s total electricity generation capacity.
Source: Ethiopia Insider
