Friday, July 3, 2025 — HAN
Addis Ababa — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Thursday that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the multibillion-dollar hydropower project on the Blue Nile that has long been at the center of regional tensions, is now fully complete. The official inauguration is set for September.
“The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is now complete, and we are preparing for its official inauguration,” Abiy told parliament, hailing the project as a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s national development strategy. The announcement marks a historic moment for a project that has fueled national pride in Ethiopia while sparking concern in downstream nations, particularly Egypt and Sudan.
In a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, Ethiopia reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation and stressed that the GERD poses no threat to its neighbors. “While there are those who believe it should be disrupted before that moment, we reaffirm our commitment: the dam will be inaugurated,” the statement said.
Seeking to ease longstanding fears over water security, the Ethiopian government described the GERD as a symbol of shared opportunity rather than division. “The Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity. It is a symbol of regional cooperation and mutual benefit,” the statement emphasized.
Highlighting that Egypt’s Aswan Dam has not lost a single litre of water due to GERD operations, Ethiopia underscored its intention to ensure that the benefits of the dam are felt across the region. “We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water. Prosperity for one should mean prosperity for all.”
The government also extended an open invitation to the governments and peoples of Egypt, Sudan, and other Nile Basin countries to attend the inauguration, framing the event as a celebration not only of Ethiopian achievement but of regional unity and potential.
The GERD — Africa’s largest hydroelectric project — has been under construction since 2011. It is expected to generate more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity, significantly boosting Ethiopia’s energy capacity and economic prospects.
However, negotiations over water use and dam operations have been stalled for years, with Egypt warning that the dam could threaten its vital share of Nile waters. Ethiopia has repeatedly insisted that the project will not harm downstream nations and has called for dialogue and cooperation.
As Ethiopia moves toward the dam’s official launch, the region watches closely to see whether this milestone will open a new chapter of collaboration — or deepen divisions — along the Nile.
