The so-called Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile is a project of gigantic proportions. The dam is pointed out as crucial for supplying Ethiopia with electricity – something half of the country's population lacks, according to the World Bank's estimates.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed spoke to the parliament in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The Renaissance Dam is completed, he announced. The inauguration is planned for September.
The message to the neighboring countries Egypt and Sudan was clear.
The Renaissance Dam is an opportunity, not a threat, he said.
Existential threat
The construction of the dam has been a source of tension in the region for several years. In Egypt and Sudan, there is great concern, since the Blue Nile is crucial for the countries' access to water. Egypt's Foreign Ministry has previously called the dam "illegal" and an existential threat.
So far, the countries have not managed to reach an agreement.
Egypt's minister responsible for water resources said on Thursday that the country "categorically" opposes all measures from Ethiopia's side that occur at the expense of other countries' rights.
Earlier in the week, Egypt's President Abd Fattah al-Sisi and Sudan's leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met. They emphasized that they do not want to see any country take "unilateral" measures. According to a spokesperson for al-Sisi, protecting the water supply is a priority issue for the two countries.
In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, on the other hand, believes in a "constructive" solution, and that the dam project is not happening at the expense of the country's "Egyptian and Sudanese brothers and sisters".
Hopes for export
The project began in 2011 and already in February 2022, some electricity could be generated from the dam. When it reaches its full capacity, it will produce enough electricity to enable export.
The budget for building the dam is around four billion dollars. The dam is nearly two kilometers wide and 145 meters high. This makes it the largest on the African continent.
