Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to Be Inaugurated in Next 6 Months

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Thursday that the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) will be inaugurated within the next six months.

“Within the next six months, we will cut the ribbon,” Abiy declared during a session before Parliament, referring to the event as “historic.”

Launched in 2011 with an investment of $4 billion, the GERD is hailed as the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, measuring 1.8 kilometers wide and standing 145 meters tall.

Situated on the Blue Nile at the border between Ethiopia and Sudan, the dam is projected to ultimately generate 5,000 megawatts (MW), which is double the current electricity production of Ethiopia.