Ethiopia has officially launched its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) believed to be the largest hydroelectric power project in Africa.
The GERD, located on the Blue Nile, was inaugurated on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. It’s inauguration ceremony attracted regional leaders including Kenya’s President, William Ruto.
Absent at the inauguration were the leaders of Egypt and Sudan. Egypt and Sudan had opposed the construction of the mega dam right from the start.
Valued at $4.2 billion, the dam has a 74 billion cubic meter water holding and 5,150-megawatt generating capacity.
Experts say the dam is expected to reorganize the power dynamics in the Nile Basin nations, especially between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan.
The construction of the dam started in 2011. Egypt and Sudan have been complaining that the dam will adversely affect their water security provider by Nile, said to be the world’s longest river.
The GERD is located about 40 kilometers east of Ethio-Sudanese border.
Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed, was joined by Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan, William Ruto of Kenya, Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, and Russell Mmiso Dlamini, the Prime Minister of Eswatini.
Source:Africa Publicity