Addis ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on Tuesday, highlighting it as a testament to Ethiopia's capabilities. The dam, spanning 1,800 meters in length and 170 meters in height, stands as Africa's largest and is set to provide electricity to millions of Ethiopians.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ethiopia's ambitious project has faced criticism from Egypt and Sudan, who have voiced concerns over the damming of the Blue Nile. Prime Minister Abiy reassured that Ethiopia harbors no ill intentions towards its neighbors, but rather seeks to foster mutual prosperity.
The dam, which cost $4.6 billion and began construction in 2011, positions Ethiopia to become a net power exporter. South Sudanese President Salva Mir announced that his country would source power from the dam. Meanwhile, Kenyan President William Ruto expressed optimism on social media, stating that the dam holds significant promise for Kenya, which is ready to sign an agreement for surplus electricity.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam boasts a capacity of 5,000 megawatts, comparable to four modern nuclear power stations. Its reservoir can contain up to 75 billion cubic meters of water and extends 172 kilometers. The project, designed and constructed by Italy's Webuild, has been producing 375 megawatts since February 2022 with two turbines, and will feature 13 turbines once fully operational.
Egypt and Sudan have expressed fears regarding potential water shortages impacting agriculture and populations, with Egypt particularly concerned for its 198 million citizens. Despite these concerns, President Ruto called for Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan to continue trilateral discussions in good faith.
