Ethiopia Declares GERD ‘Complete’, Seeks Shared Prosperity With Egypt and Sudan

Addis Ababa – Ethiopia’s ambitious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a multi-billion-dollar project built on the Blue Nile, is now complete and slated for official inauguration in September, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Thursday.

In a statement to Ethiopia’s parliament, Prime Minister Abiy positioned the GERD as a beacon of regional cooperation rather than conflict. “To our neighbours downstream – Egypt and Sudan – our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity,” he said. “The energy and development it will generate stand to uplift not just Ethiopia, but the entire region.”

The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns from Egypt and Sudan, who have long expressed fears that the dam could reduce their share of vital Nile waters. Despite several rounds of negotiations, the three countries have yet to reach a binding agreement on GERD’s operation and water management.

Egypt, which relies on the Nile for roughly 97% of its water needs, views the dam as an existential threat, especially given its growing water scarcity challenges. Sudan, too, has voiced concern about the impact of the dam on water flow and its own infrastructure downstream.

Originally launched in 2011 with a projected cost of $4 billion, GERD is now Africa’s largest hydroelectric project. The structure stretches nearly 1.8 kilometers across and stands 145 meters tall. At full capacity, it can hold 74 billion cubic metres of water and generate over 5,000 megawatts of electricity—more than twice Ethiopia’s current power output.

The project is located in Ethiopia’s northwestern Benishangul-Gumuz region, approximately 30 kilometers from the Sudanese border. The first electricity was generated from GERD in February 2022.

With a population approaching 130 million and still growing rapidly, Ethiopia faces a significant electricity deficit. According to recent World Bank estimates, nearly half the population lives without access to power. The government sees GERD as central to its electrification strategy and broader development agenda.

Earlier this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Sudan’s leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan reiterated their opposition to unilateral actions on the Nile. In a joint statement, both leaders emphasized their shared commitment to safeguarding water security across the region.

Nonetheless, Prime Minister Abiy signaled Ethiopia’s readiness to keep talking. “We are willing to engage constructively,” he said. “This project will not come at the expense of our neighbours. We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water. Prosperity for one should mean prosperity for all.”


By WafricNews Desk.