Ethiopia to generate electricity from GERD amid negotiations deadlock
Ethiopia will produce energy from the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in a move likely to heighten existing tensions with Egypt and Sudan.
Ethiopia is for the first time preparing to generate power from the giant hydroelectric Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile (one of two main tributaries of the Nile) in a move likely to increase existing tensions with Egypt and Sudan.
Ethiopian press reports said that Addis Ababa is now ready to start testing power generation from the dam.
Ethiopia, which has completed the construction of more than 80% of the controversial dam, is seeking to produce 700 MW by operating the first two turbines, thus covering 20% of its own needs, government officials have stated.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed convened an expanded Cabinet meeting on Jan. 5 at the construction site of the dam in the Benishangul region, located 900 kilometers northwest of the capital, Addis Ababa, to follow up on the implementation of his plan for the first 100 days after his re-election as prime minister in July 2021. Ahmed also inspected the construction work of the dam where work started 11 years ago.
