Addis Ababa, August 27, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopia has achieved a major national development milestone through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), leveraging its own capacity and strength, said Minister of Water and Energy, Engineer Habtamu Itefa (PhD).
Speaking on the eve of the official inauguration of Africa’s largest hydropower project, Minister Habtamu emphasized that the GERD has been realized through the cooperation and solidarity of Ethiopians from all walks of life, creating a project that is poised to capture global attention.
Recalling Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent statement on the dam’s completion, Minister Habtamu highlighted the Prime Minister’s words that “GERD will stand for generations as a living monument, bearing witness to Ethiopia’s journey of renewal—paved with a drop of blood, a drop of sweat, a drop of tears, and a drop of water.”
He said the message serves as a reminder that the dam’s success forms a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s renewal, achieved through the dedication and sacrifices of its people.
Minister Habtamu noted that the GERD demonstrates that Ethiopia’s development ambitions extend far beyond the dam itself, signaling that the nation is capable of realizing large-scale, multifaceted achievements for its prosperity goals.
He described the GERD as a long-awaited project, reflecting decades of national effort to harness Ethiopia’s abundant water resources, and praised the current generation for fulfilling the country’s long-standing development aspirations entirely through domestic resources.
“The success of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a landmark achievement that will leave a lasting legacy for future generations,” he said, emphasizing the project’s role as Africa’s largest hydropower facility. He highlighted the active participation of Ethiopians at home and abroad, who contributed to the project in solidarity without distinction, creating a historic national accomplishment.
Minister Habtamu also stressed that Ethiopia has worked to establish a fair system for transboundary water resource management. He described the GERD as a continental project that breaks historical barriers of inequitable water utilization, noting that it provides regulated water flow to downstream countries, mitigating flood risks and delivering shared benefits to the region.
Beyond power generation, the dam’s reservoir is expected to support fisheries and eco-tourism, contributing to broader economic development. Minister Habtamu paid tribute to the citizens who sacrificed resources, including lives, to ensure the project’s success, saying their contributions will be remembered for generations.
He further noted that the electricity generated by the GERD has significant potential to expand both national and regional energy access.