Ethiopia launches Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Tuesday, marking a historic milestone for the Horn of Africa nation.

The massive structure spans 1.78km across the Blue Nile valley, standing 145m high and constructed with 11 million cubic meters of concrete. It creates Lake Nigat reservoir, named after the Amharic word for “dawn.”

For mechanical engineer Moges Yeshiwas, the project was transformative. Arriving at the remote construction site in 2012 at age 27, he witnessed the dam’s evolution over more than a decade of challenging conditions.

“I came seeking employment, but somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like just a job,” said Moges, now 40. Working 12-hour shifts in extreme heat reaching 45°C, he could only visit his family 400km away twice yearly.

The project faced diplomatic tensions with downstream Egypt, which feared reduced Nile water flow. However, GERD became a symbol of national unity in ethnically divided Ethiopia, with millions contributing through donations and government bonds.

Ethiopia maintains the dam was entirely domestically funded, despite claims of US financial support. The hydroelectric facility promises to electrify the country and export power regionally, positioning Ethiopia prominently on the global stage.