By Samson Oyugi
Africa’s largest hydroelectric project The GERD, located on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia with a capacity of 5,150–6,450 MW and a reservoir holding up to 74 billion cubic meters of water is set for inauguration on 9th September 2025 after the completion of the construction works that began in 2011.
The dam has been a source of pride for Ethiopia, funded domestically through bonds and public contributions, and is expected to double the country’s electricity output and even enabling energy exports to neighboring countries such as Sudan, Kenya, and Djibouti.
The project sparked tensions with downstream nations of Egypt and Sudan, who fear it could reduce their Nile water supply.
Egypt relies on the Nile for 97% of its water needs and has referred to the dam as an “existential threat” and labeled its operation without a binding agreement as a violation of international law.
Sudan had also expressed concerns, though it has oscillated due to potential benefits like regulated water flows that could reduce on its perennial flooding .
Despite years of negotiations, no legally binding agreement on the dam’s operation has been reached after meetings of negotiations up to the African Union level.
Ethiopia through Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has described the dam as a “shared opportunity” for regional cooperation and has extended an invitation to African countries including Egypt and Sudan to it’s inauguration.
Through his address on the ongoing preparations read to the media in Kenya by the Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya His excellency Demeke Atnafu Ambulo he said, “Africa should be proud of such an infrastructure that is going to benefit not only Ethiopia but the greater East Africa region and even beyond economically hence solving African problems using African solutions just as Ethiopia has shown”.
The GERD’s completion marks a significant milestone to Ethiopia’s energy ambitions with its population projected to grow to 240 million by the year 2030 from current 130 million with half the population connected to reliable energy. With the increase in population, their energy demand will increase.
