Addis Ababa, September 9, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia has officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), marking the completion of Africa’s largest hydroelectric project after 14 years of construction. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the opening ceremony of the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), where he hailed the dam as a continental emblem of self-reliance, unity, and clean energy.
“Soon, we will inaugurate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam — a continental symbol of self-reliance, unity, and clean energy,” said Prime Minister Abiy. “It will provide over 5,000 megawatts of renewable power, lighting the way to fair energy for Ethiopia and East Africa.”
GERD, located on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, is now fully operational and expected to significantly boost energy access both domestically and across East Africa. With its 5,000 MW generation capacity, the dam strengthens Ethiopia’s role in regional energy integration and contributes to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals for sustainable development and industrialization.
Described as more than just an infrastructure project, GERD is being positioned as a pan-African symbol of resilience and innovation in climate action. Leaders at ACS2 emphasized the dam’s significance not only in providing clean energy but also in driving inclusive economic growth and enhancing climate resilience across the continent.
The GERD project has long been viewed as a model for nationally led, African-owned solutions to continental challenges. Its commissioning comes at a critical time when the continent is pushing for equitable energy transitions and homegrown responses to climate change.
The inauguration also reinforces Ethiopia’s “Green Legacy” initiative and reflects a growing shift toward renewable energy in Africa’s development narrative.