Addis Ababa, December 26, 2025 (FMC) — The successful completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has widened Ethiopia’s development horizon and created the confidence to dream of even bigger national projects, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Advisor on East African Affairs, Getachew Reda, told a high‑level forum at the dam site in Guba.
Speaking at the forum held under the theme “GERD for Ethiopia’s Renewal,” Mr. Getachew described the dam as a transformative project that links energy security with industrial ambition and regional cooperation, while translating Ethiopia’s natural resource potential into tangible economic gains.
Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) CEO Ashebir Balcha told FMC that GERD is no longer merely a hydropower project but a strategic engine reshaping Ethiopia’s economy and positioning the country as a key hub in East Africa’s emerging regional power grid.
He noted that the dam has significantly expanded the nation’s electricity generation capacity. Ethiopia’s total installed capacity was under 5,000 megawatts before the construction of GERD; with the dam now operational, supply has reached approximately 10,000 megawatts, marking a decisive shift for a country long constrained by energy shortages that limited industrial growth.
Nearly half of Ethiopia’s population previously lacked reliable electricity. GERD now underpins a stronger national grid and forms a foundation for sustained economic expansion. The dam is also accelerating regional integration and foreign currency earnings, with Ethiopia currently exporting electricity to Kenya, Djibouti, Sudan, and supplying part of Tanzania’s demand.
GERD alone accounts for 51 percent of the country’s total power exports. Preparations are underway to extend power supply to South Sudan and Somalia, it was mentioned.
“Ethiopia is increasingly recognized as a dependable supplier of clean and renewable energy,” Ashebir said, adding that cross‑border power trade reflects a broader strategy of energy diplomacy emphasizing cooperation and shared infrastructure.
Fiseha Yitagesu, CEO of Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPGC), highlighted the economic impact of GERD on Ethiopia’s industrial sector. Reliable electricity from the dam has strengthened the country’s appeal to foreign investors, particularly in manufacturing.
Industrial parks alone will require approximately 2,500 megawatts over the next five years — a demand GERD is critical to meet. Dependable energy, once a major barrier to investment, is no longer limiting, enabling Ethiopia to attract global manufacturers in textiles, agro-processing, and other energy-intensive sectors.
Other high-level participants emphasized the historical and symbolic importance of GERD, noting it was financed entirely through domestic bonds and public contributions and conceived as the engine of Ethiopia’s shift from an agrarian to an industrial economy.
Deputy Government Whip Meseret Haile described GERD as a living example of Ethiopia’s prosperity in action, reflecting the unity of the Ethiopian people and contributing to industrial productivity and economic growth.
Desalegn Wedaje, HPR Standing Committee on Planning, Budget and Finance Chairperson, called it “a symbol of Ethiopia’s prosperity and the pride of the nation” and urged the development of tourism potential around the site.
Aregawi Berhe, CEO of the GERD Project Coordination Office, emphasized the unifying power of the dam, saying it creates “a spirit of possibility among all Ethiopians.” Policy Study Institute (PSI) Director General Fikadu Tsega added that GERD has boosted industrial productivity and strengthened the implementation of Digital Ethiopia, becoming a clear example of the country’s revival in practice.
As Ethiopia moves toward full operational capacity of GERD, officials and experts agreed that the project stands as a cornerstone of national renewal, linking energy security with industrial ambition, regional cooperation, and sustainable economic growth.