Ethiopia Officially Inaugurates the Grand Renaissance Dam After 14 Years

After 14 years of construction, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) today, Tuesday. This announcement turns the controversial dam into a tangible reality, despite the continued lack of an agreement with downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, on its operational and filling rules.

The dam, a source of significant regional tension, is finally operational after construction has been completed. However, controversy persists as the three concerned parties have yet to reach a consensual formula that safeguards everyone's interests.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reiterated his reassuring rhetoric, emphasizing that the dam does not pose a threat to either Egypt or Sudan. He stressed that Ethiopia is only using a very limited portion of the transboundary river's resources and has not taken anything that does not belong to it.

Egypt is almost entirely dependent on Nile River waters, receiving approximately 55.5 billion cubic meters annually out of its 60 billion cubic meters of total water resources. Sudan, meanwhile, has an estimated 38 billion cubic meters of water resources per year, with 18.5 billion cubic meters coming from the Blue Nile.

For its part, Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa with 120 million people, sees the $5 billion GERD project as fundamental to its economic development ambitions. Construction began in 2011, and the dam is eventually expected to generate 5,150 megawatts of power, building on the 750 megawatts already produced by two operational turbines.

Abiy Ahmed affirmed that the power generated by the dam will improve electricity access for Ethiopian citizens, with the surplus being exported to neighboring countries. Ethiopia maintains that the project is a sovereign right and has proceeded with its implementation. It began the phased filling of the reservoir in 2020, while stating that the dam would not cause significant harm to downstream nations.

Previously, Abiy Ahmed stated that "the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity... The energy and development the dam will generate will not only lift Ethiopia." Local media reports indicate that 91% of the project's funding came from the Ethiopian Central Bank, with Ethiopians contributing the remaining 9% through bond sales and donations, without any foreign assistance.