Ethiopia Opens Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam After 14 Years
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on tuesday, nearly 14 years after construction began, according to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News agency and Al Arabiya.
Al Arabiya reported that despite the dam’s completion,debates and disputes over it are expected to continue.
Abiy Ahmed reassured neighboring countries once again that the dam does not pose a threat to Egypt or Sudan.
He emphasized ethiopia’s limited use of transboundary water resources and stressed that his country has not seized any share that does not belong to it.
The GERD, Africa’s largest hydropower project, supplies electricity to millions across Ethiopia while exacerbating tensions with downstream Egypt. Addis Ababa regards the dam as central to its economic development. Since power generation began in 2011, output from two active turbines currently stands at 750 megawatts. This capacity is planned to increase eventually to 5,150 megawatts.
Downstream neighbors have closely watched the project with concern. Egypt-where about 90 percent of freshwater comes from the Nile-fears that during drought periods GERD will restrict its water supply and prompt upstream reservoir constructions. Egypt built its own Aswan high Dam on the Nile in the 1960s but strongly opposes GERD.
Cairo argues that GERD violates colonial-era water treaties established under British rule and considers it a threat to its national existence. Egypt has a population of approximately 108 million people who rely heavily on Nile waters for their fresh water needs.
