Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam: Symbol of Progress or Trigger for Water Crisis?

With the completion of the GERD dam, a geopolitically sensitive major project on the Nile reaches its peak.

Ethiopia has completed the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) – one of Africa's largest infrastructure projects. The dam on the Blue Nile, which can store more water than Lake Geneva, is intended to make Ethiopia a leading electricity producer on the continent. In the future, up to 5000 megawatts of electricity could be produced – more than twice as much as has been generated in the country so far.

Electricity for millions – but concerns about water distribution

The mega-dam is intended to advance the electrification of Ethiopia and generate revenue through electricity exports. The government in Addis Ababa, which financed a large part of the project on its own, sees it as a milestone for economic development. However, the euphoria is not shared everywhere.

The neighboring countries Egypt and Sudan view the structure with concern. Both states fear that Ethiopia could control the water supply in the future, making it difficult for them to access Nile water. Egypt, in particular, relies on the water of the Nile – the Blue Nile contributes about half to the water volume of the Egyptian Aswan Dam.

Long negotiations – little progress

As early as 2020, there were mediation attempts to find a joint solution for water management between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan. However, these were unsuccessful. According to the emeritus geography professor Hans Hurni from Bern, Ethiopia always insisted on its position: The dam is located on Ethiopian territory – and thus the decision-making authority lies solely with Addis Ababa.

Although Ethiopia has announced that it will not fill the reservoir too quickly to avoid abruptly reducing the water flow, mistrust remains high. In the past, Egypt even threatened military action against the dam. However, the GERD is now almost completely filled – destroying the dam would now have severe consequences for both Egypt and Sudan.

Inauguration under geopolitical tension

The inauguration of the GERD takes place amid ongoing political tension. While Ethiopia hopes for economic progress, concerns about water security are growing in Egypt. A consensual solution to the dispute over the water resource remains elusive.

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.