- President William Ruto is in Ethiopia for Africa’s Second Climate Summit.
- Will attend the launch of the $4.2B Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
- GERD is expected to generate 6,450 megawatts, doubling Ethiopia’s power capacity.
- Ethiopia hails the dam as a symbol of African resilience and development.
- Egypt and Sudan remain concerned over the Nile water flow and safety.
President William Ruto is in Ethiopia to attend Africa’s Second Climate Summit before joining other leaders for the launch of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The $4.2 billion hydroelectric project, built on the Blue Nile, has been under construction for more than a decade and is Africa’s largest dam.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told parliament in Addis Ababa that the inauguration would coincide with Ethiopia’s New Year celebrations in September.
“This is not just Ethiopia’s dam. It is a symbol of African resilience and development,” Abiy said.
The project is designed to produce 6,450 megawatts of electricity — more than doubling Ethiopia’s power supply and positioning the country as a regional energy hub.
Construction began in 2011, funded mostly through domestic contributions and bond sales, making it a symbol of national pride. Ethiopian authorities say the dam will regulate river flow, reduce flooding, and expand access to affordable electricity.
However, the GERD has long stirred tensions with Egypt and Sudan, which depend heavily on Nile waters. Egypt, which relies on the river for 97% of its freshwater, fears reduced flows downstream. Sudan has voiced safety concerns and worries about the impact on its infrastructure.
Despite years of African Union mediation, the three countries have not agreed on dam operations or a binding water-sharing deal. Ethiopia insists GERD will not cause harm and has invited Egypt and Sudan to the launch, though neither has responded publicly.
Ethiopian Electric Power confirmed that two more turbines were switched on in August, raising current generation to over 2,000 megawatts as the reservoir continues filling.
