Sudan and Egypt are involved about its impact on their water provide, however Abiy says the dam will profit all of them.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has mentioned a multibillion-dollar mega dam on the Blue Nile, which has induced deep consternation to downstream neighbours Egypt and Sudan over its impact on their water provide, is full and will probably be formally inaugurated in September.
Of that regional concern over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Abiy mentioned on Thursday in an handle to parliament: “To our neighbours downstream – Egypt and Sudan – our message is obvious: the Renaissance Dam shouldn’t be a menace, however a shared alternative … The power and improvement it would generate stand to uplift not simply Ethiopia.”
Concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
“The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is now full, and we’re making ready for its official inauguration. Whereas there are those that imagine it must be disrupted earlier than that second, we reaffirm our dedication: the dam will probably be… pic.twitter.com/5pkRqnTBum
— Workplace of the Prime Minister – Ethiopia (@PMEthiopia) July 3, 2025
Egypt and Sudan have expressed considerations about GERD’s operation, fearing it may threaten their entry to very important Nile waters. Negotiations to succeed in a three-way settlement with Ethiopia have did not make a breakthrough.
Egypt, which is already affected by extreme water shortage, sees the dam as an existential menace, because the nation depends on the Nile for 97 % of its water wants.
The GERD, launched in 2011 with a $4bn funds, is taken into account Africa’s largest hydroelectric undertaking, stretching 1.8km (about one mile) broad and 145 metres (475ft) excessive.
Ethiopia says the dam, situated on the Blue Nile, a significant tributary of the Nile River, is important for its electrification programme.
Ethiopia first started producing electrical energy on the undertaking, situated within the northwest of the nation, about 30km (20 miles) from the border with Sudan, in February 2022.
At full capability, the large dam can maintain as a lot as 74 billion cubic metres (2,590 cubic toes) of water and will generate greater than 5,000 megawatts of energy – greater than double Ethiopia’s present output.
The east African nation is the second most populous on the continent, with a quickly rising inhabitants estimated at 130 million, and has rising electrical energy wants.
About half of its individuals dwell with out electrical energy, in response to estimates launched this yr by the World Financial institution.
Earlier this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Sudan’s chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met and “careworn their rejection of any unilateral measures within the Blue Nile Basin”.
Based on a press release by Sisi’s spokesman, the 2 are dedicated to “safeguard water safety” within the area.
However Abiy mentioned Ethiopia is “prepared to have interaction constructively”, including that the undertaking will “not come on the expense” of both Egypt or Sudan.
“We imagine in shared progress, shared power, and shared water,” he mentioned. “Prosperity for one ought to imply prosperity for all.”