"The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), 14 years in the making, will be officially inaugurated this week. At 1,800 meters (nearly 6,000 feet) wide, 175 meters high and capable of holding back up to 74 billion cubic meters of water in a reservoir covering an area larger than the city of London, the massive structure is the largest dam in Africa."
"The new dam on the Blue Nile, a main tributary of the Nile, has already been generating renewable hydroelectric power since early 2022, and the project eventually expects to double Ethiopia's current electricity capacity. As much as half of the country's population doesn't have reliable access to electricity, leaving many to rely on burning polluting fuels such as wood, coal and gas."
"For downstream states Egypt and Sudan, the waters of the Blue Nile are vital and increasingly scarce. A 2019 study published in the journal Earth's Future found that annual demand for water in the Nile Basin could regularly exceed supply by 2030. Egypt and Sudan have opposed what they describe as Ethiopia's "unilateral measures" to control the river's flow, fearing the effects on water availability, and have called for joint management of the river."
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will be inaugurated after 14 years of construction. The dam is 1,800 meters wide, 175 meters high and can hold up to 74 billion cubic meters, creating a reservoir larger than London. It has produced hydroelectric power since early 2022 and is expected to double Ethiopia's electricity capacity, addressing unreliable access that leaves many relying on polluting fuels. Downstream Egypt and Sudan depend on the Blue Nile and fear reduced water availability. A 2019 study warns Nile Basin demand may exceed supply by 2030. Egypt and Sudan seek joint river management while Ethiopia insists the dam is not a threat.
Read at www.dw.com
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