Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on September 9, marking the launch of Africa’s largest hydroelectric facility on the Blue Nile with a massive capacity of 5,150 megawatts, now one of the world’s top 20 hydropower projects. The $5 billion project, largely funded domestically (91%), has emerged as a powerful symbol of national ambition and unity in a country of over 120 million people.
At the inauguration ceremony in Guba, a dramatic display included a fighter jet flying low over the mist of the dam’s plunging waters, beneath a giant Ethiopian flag, while regional leaders from Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya looked on. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed framed GERD as a “shared opportunity,” not just for Ethiopia but for neighboring nations, envisioning energy cooperation and flood control benefits.
Yet, the project remains deeply contentious. Egypt, which depends on the Nile for approximately 90%–97% of its water, fears GERD could threaten its water availability, especially during droughts, and accuses Ethiopia of sidelining colonial-era water rights and international law. Sudan, too, worries about unregulated water releases adversely affecting its own flow control systems.
Despite these geopolitical strains and failed negotiations including attempts by U.S. President Trump, Ethiopia asserts that reservoir filling has been slow and aligned with rainfall, avoiding significant downstream disruptions. Experts warn, however, that a lack of a binding tripartite agreement may expose the region to conflict, especially in the event of prolonged drought.
On the ground, the dam’s power has already begun benefiting rural communities and industries, even as a significant portion of Ethiopians remains off-grid. Full electrification and harnessing the dam’s export potential hinge on extending infrastructure.
