Ethiopia says it has completed building a mega-dam on the Blue Nile that has long been a source of tension with Egypt and Sudan. Launched in 2011 with a $4bn (£2.9bn) budget, the dam is Africa's biggest hydro-electric plant, and a major source of pride for Ethiopians. Ethiopia sees the dam as vital to meeting its energy needs but Egypt and Sudan see it as threatening their water supply from the Nile. In a statement announcing the completion of the project, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sought to reassure his neighbours. "To our neighbours downstream - Egypt and Sudan - our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity," he said. US President Donald Trump said in 2020 that Egypt had threatened to "blow up" the dam - officially known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd). In a conciliatory move, Abiy said that both Egypt and Sudan would be invited to its official inauguration in September. "We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water," he said. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Sudan's military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met earlier this week and "stressed their rejection of any unilateral measures in the Blue Nile Basin", AFP news agency reports. More than a mile long and 145m high, the dam is on the Blue Nile tributary in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the Nile's waters flow. Ethiopia wants the dam to produce desperately needed electricity, as the majority of its population - about 60% - have no supply. Egypt relies on the River Nile for nearly all of its fresh water, and fears that the flow of water could be disrupted. It has argued that just a 2% reduction in the amount of water it gets from the Nile could result in the loss of 200,000 acres of irrigated land. Sudan is also heavily reliant on water from the Nile, and shares Egypt's concerns. Abiy said Ethiopia was "willing to engage constructively" with the two countries. However, previous talks have failed to resolve differences. Go toBBCAfrica.comfor more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter@BBCAfrica, on Facebook atBBC Africaor on Instagram atbbcafrica
Ethiopia has finished building mega-dam on Nile, PM says
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"Ethiopia Completes Construction of Controversial Blue Nile Mega-Dam"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Ethiopia has announced the completion of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, a significant infrastructure project that has been a source of contention with Egypt and Sudan since its inception in 2011. With a budget of $4 billion, the dam is the largest hydro-electric power plant in Africa and is seen as a beacon of national pride for Ethiopians. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized the importance of the dam for Ethiopia's energy needs, noting that approximately 60% of the population lacks access to electricity. In his statement regarding the dam's completion, he extended an olive branch to Egypt and Sudan, asserting that the dam represents a shared opportunity rather than a threat. This statement is crucial in light of past tensions, including remarks from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who indicated that Egypt had considered military action against the dam due to concerns over its water supply.
The dam, which stands over 145 meters high and stretches more than a mile in length, is located in the Ethiopian highlands, where 85% of the Nile's waters originate. Egypt, which depends on the Nile for nearly all of its freshwater, has expressed fears that the dam could significantly reduce its water supply, with estimates suggesting that even a 2% reduction could endanger vast agricultural lands. Sudan shares similar concerns, highlighting the need for cooperative management of the Blue Nile Basin. Despite Ethiopia's willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with its neighbors, previous negotiations have not yielded satisfactory outcomes. As Ethiopia prepares for the dam's official inauguration in September, the regional dynamics remain tense, with Egypt and Sudan reaffirming their opposition to unilateral actions in the Nile Basin. The situation continues to evolve as stakeholders navigate the complexities of water rights and energy needs in the region.
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