Ethiopia inaugurates Africa’s largest dam, pledges power for domestic use and regional exports

ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia on Tuesday inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the largest hydropower project in Africa, as reservoir waters flowed into turbines and officials said the facility will more than double the country’s electricity generation and support domestic electric vehicle development.

The almost $5 billion dam, located on a tributary of the Nile in the country’s northwest near the border with Sudan, is expected to produce more than 5,000 megawatts of power. Government officials said the new capacity will help end frequent blackouts, spur industrial growth and enable charging infrastructure for electric vehicles after the government banned the importation of gasoline-powered cars.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed the project as a landmark achievement, telling those gathered and the nation that the dam would demonstrate “what Africans are capable of accomplishing.” Dozens of visiting African heads of state and government attended the inauguration, and several indicated interest in importing electricity from Ethiopia.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir said his country would soon sign an agreement to receive electricity that would benefit hospitals and schools. Kenyan President William Ruto said Kenya is seeking a power-purchasing agreement to help alleviate its electricity deficit and called the dam “a pan-African statement” that aligns with the African Union’s vision of continental energy connectivity.

At the inauguration, Ethiopians donned colorful regalia, watched the ceremony on large screens across the capital and celebrated with traditional music and dancing. Commuters and business owners said they anticipated more reliable service. “We will have enough power to charge our electric vehicles from the new dam,” said Belay Tigabu, a bus driver at Addis Ababa’s main terminal. A 20-year-old university student, Yabsira Misganw, said the project should improve online services and stability for tech businesses.

The dam has been a source of diplomatic tension with downstream countries, particularly Egypt, which relies on the Nile for the vast majority of its water supply. Egyptian officials have long warned that the project could reduce flows downstream and have called for binding agreements on filling and operation. Tamim Khallaf, a spokesperson for Egypt’s foreign ministry, said the dam posed an “existential threat” and accused Ethiopia of failing to provide prior notification and meaningful consultations, citing what he called a violation of international law.

Abiy sought to allay those fears during his remarks, promising that Ethiopia would not deprive downstream nations of their water share and calling for shared prosperity. “I assure you that Ethiopia will never take away your rightful share,” he said. “The hunger of our brothers in Egypt, in Sudan, or anywhere else is also our hunger. We must share and grow together, for we have no intention of harming anyone.”

Ethiopia’s government and regional leaders have engaged in intermittent talks over the filling and management of the dam’s reservoir since construction began years ago. Negotiations have included technical discussions and involvement from international mediators at various points, but a comprehensive, legally binding accord covering all downstream concerns has not been reached publicly.

Analysts and policymakers say the dam’s operational decisions—particularly how quickly the reservoir is filled and how seasonal flows are managed—will determine downstream impacts. Ethiopian officials have argued that a larger, regulated reservoir can stabilize flows and reduce downstream flood risk in some years, while also delivering substantial electricity to a nation with ambitious development goals.

The inauguration marks a major step in Ethiopia’s effort to expand energy production and export capacity, but it will also focus renewed attention on regional water diplomacy as downstream countries monitor the dam’s operations and negotiate any power-purchase arrangements.