Abstract
On September 9, 2025, Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, now the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa. GERD will have an installed capacity of 5,150 MW surpassing the
nation’s previous electricity output by more than double. The USD 5 billion project, mostly funded (91 per cent) by Ethiopia’s central bank and citizens, symbolizes both national resilience and ambition. Towering at 170 meters and spanning nearly 2 kilometers, the dam holds a 74 billion cubic meters reservoir, hence it is now among the 20 largest hydroelectric facilities globally. Although only two turbines fluctuating around 750 MW were in operation during the ceremony, the dam’s full potential is expected to power millions
