Ethiopia has moved to reassure both its neighbors and the wider continent that its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), set to be inaugurated on September 9, will serve as a driver of shared prosperity rather than a source of conflict.
Framed as Africa’s largest hydroelectric plant and a symbol of self-reliance, the dam has long been at the heart of regional tensions over the future of the Nile. But Ethiopian officials insist the project represents not only a national triumph but also a Pan-African investment in clean energy, resilience, and integration.
“This is our everlasting Ethiopian towering monument built by the sweat and blood of Ethiopians. But it is also for riparian countries and Africa at large,” declared Demeke Atnafu Ambulo, Ethiopia’s Deputy Head of Mission in Nairobi, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Built across the Blue Nile in Benishangul-Gumuz region, the GERD has an installed capacity of 5,150 megawatts, positioning it as the largest hydropower project on the continent. Once fully operational, it is expected to produce 15,700 gigawatt-hours annually, a transformative leap for a nation where more than 60 percent of its 120 million people lack reliable access to electricity.
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Ethiopia’s government argues the dam will illuminate homes, power industries, and irrigate agriculture, all while slashing poverty levels and fuelling economic resilience. With Ethiopia’s population projected to nearly double by 2050, energy demand is expected to soar. Officials view the GERD as not just infrastructure, but as a lifeline for the country’s stability and growth.
The project also dovetails with continental ambitions for a green energy transition. By replacing dependence on fossil fuels with renewable hydropower, Ethiopia plans to expand electricity exports to Kenya, Djibouti, and Sudan, with future connections planned to Tanzania and South Sudan. Analysts believe this will cut energy costs, boost industrial competitiveness, and stimulate cross-border trade, key ingredients for Africa’s long-term sustainability.
Despite Ethiopia’s optimism, Egypt and Sudan remain wary. Egypt, which depends on the Nile for more than 90 percent of its freshwater needs, fears that upstream water management could threaten its agriculture and food security. Its objections rest heavily on colonial-era treaties, the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement, which granted Cairo and Khartoum near-total control over the Nile’s flow while excluding Ethiopia and other upstream nations.
Sudan has taken a more nuanced stance, recognizing the potential benefits but demanding robust safety guarantees and binding agreements on water release protocols.
Addis Ababa, however, has pushed back against these claims, pointing to independent studies and an International Panel of Experts that concluded the dam could actually stabilise river flows, reduce flooding, and mitigate drought risks downstream. Ethiopia insists it has consistently shared data with Khartoum and views Cairo’s resistance as rooted in outdated notions of “historic rights.”
International law appears to bolster Ethiopia’s case. The UN Watercourses Convention enshrines the principle of equitable and reasonable use of transboundary waters—an argument Addis Ababa wields to justify its approach.
Beyond geopolitics, the GERD holds immense symbolic weight inside Ethiopia. Unlike many African megaprojects built on foreign loans, this dam was financed through domestic bonds and citizen contributions, with support flowing in from teachers, farmers, civil servants, and the diaspora. For many Ethiopians, this makes it a true people’s project—a unifying symbol of national pride and resilience.
“This project belongs to Ethiopians everywhere,” Ambulo noted. “Every citizen has a stake in it.”
The unveiling of the GERD will coincide with the Second African Climate Summit in Addis Ababa (September 8–10), a gathering of more than 45 heads of state and government focused on renewable energy and climate resilience. Ethiopia hopes the dual events will reframe the GERD as not a flashpoint for disputes but as a continental beacon of sustainability and cooperation.
Officials argue the project represents Africa’s determination to harness its natural resources for shared progress. By integrating regional energy markets and reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels, the GERD could help anchor Africa’s response to the climate crisis.
While questions remain over binding agreements with Egypt and Sudan, Ethiopia is banking on the recently ratified Cooperative Framework Agreement (2024) to provide a long-term basis for Nile Basin cooperation. The hope is that the focus will shift from disputes to the opportunities the GERD creates: wider electrification, greener growth, and a new model for self-financed African infrastructure.
As the inauguration approaches, Ethiopia is keen to frame the GERD as more than concrete and turbines. In Ambulo’s words, it is “Africa’s beacon of resilience, integration, and shared progress.”
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