Ethiopia makes waves with its Grand Renaissance Dam

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the biggest hydroelectric power plant in Africa and a landmark project that is expected to significantly boost electricity supply in the East African country, was inaugurated on Tuesday.

The opening ceremony, held during the second Africa Climate Summit at the dam site in Guba, near Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, was attended by African leaders who included Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Kenyan President William Ruto and Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

In his address, Ahmed described the dam as "a continental symbol of self-reliance, unity and clean energy", noting that the project will provide more than 5,000 megawatts of renewable power to Ethiopia and the region.

"It embodies Africa's resolve for sustainable growth and a collective journey toward a just, inclusive and climate-resilient future," he said.

Ahmed called the dam a "great achievement not only for Ethiopia but for all Africans", and added that Ethiopia will use the energy to improve its citizens' access to electricity while also exporting surplus power to the region.

Constructed over 14 years, the $5 billion dam is expected to generate 15,760 GWh of electricity annually, providing reliable electricity to tens of millions of homes while supporting industrial growth and regional power trade.

Kifle Horo, project manager for the dam, emphasized the national effort behind the project. "Our people showed incredible bravery," he said, calling the dam not only an engineering achievement but a symbol of resilience and national determination.

"Citizens involved in the GERD risked their lives daily for the success of this national project."

He added that the dam has also driven community development around the Guba site, with new roads, schools and healthcare facilities. Beyond electricity, the GERD will enhance water management, providing a stable supply for agriculture and mitigating seasonal floods, he said.

Abebe Haile Gabriela, assistant director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Africa, emphasized the importance of vision, self-reliance and collective effort in achieving large-scale projects like the Renaissance Dam.

He said the dam, as a renewable hydroelectric source, demonstrates that African nations can actively contribute to global climate solutions rather than rely solely on international aid.

"We can and should think big," he said, highlighting the confidence needed to turn ambitious plans into reality. He noted that the project's success was built on the active participation of grassroots communities, government and the private sector.

"The Ethiopians, left and right, bottom up, paid for it. We didn't borrow money internationally," he added.

Originally planned to be ready inside seven years, the dam took double that to complete, reflecting the challenges of a domestically funded project. Yet the investment is expected to generate about $1 billion in annual export revenue, potentially repaying itself in five to six years.

Haile Gabriela stressed that locally financed projects foster ownership, commitment and accountability in a way that external funding cannot.

"It's an issue of ownership, vision, commitment and self-reliance," he said.

Prime Minister Ahmed described the GERD as more than a national project. "It is a continental milestone. It embodies our determination to rely on our own resources and shape our own destiny," he added.