Ethiopia has officially completed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, a project launched in 2011 with a budget of $4 billion. This massive hydroelectric plant is now Africa's largest and symbolizes national pride for Ethiopians. While Ethiopia views the dam as essential for its energy needs, Egypt and Sudan express deep concern over its impact on their water supply. PM Abiy Ahmed addressed these worries, assuring that the dam is a "shared opportunity" rather than a threat, and emphasized Ethiopia's readiness for constructive dialogue.
The dam stretches over a mile and stands at 145 meters high, with a purpose of generating much-needed electricity for a country lacking adequate power supply, where around 60% of the population is without electricity. Egypt, relying almost entirely on the River Nile for freshwater, fears that the dam could disrupt water flow, risking agricultural land. Sudan shares these concerns and has called for collaborative management of the Nile waters. While Ethiopia seeks progress through shared resources, efforts to mediate tensions have yet to yield results, and both Egypt and Sudan have expressed dissent regarding unilateral decisions regarding the river.
The dam stretches over a mile and stands at 145 meters high, with a purpose of generating much-needed electricity for a country lacking adequate power supply, where around 60% of the population is without electricity. Egypt, relying almost entirely on the River Nile for freshwater, fears that the dam could disrupt water flow, risking agricultural land. Sudan shares these concerns and has called for collaborative management of the Nile waters. While Ethiopia seeks progress through shared resources, efforts to mediate tensions have yet to yield results, and both Egypt and Sudan have expressed dissent regarding unilateral decisions regarding the river.
