Overview

• Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on September 11, and phased electricity generation has begun.
• The Blue Nile project is designed for 5,150 MW with two power stations housing 13 Francis turbines and an expected output of about 15,700 GWh per year.
• The dam took roughly 14 years and about $5 billion to build, was designed and constructed by Italy’s Webuild Group, and employed some 25,000 workers with more than 95% from Ethiopia.
• Egypt and Sudan boycotted the ceremony and issued a joint protest alleging breaches of international law, as Egypt also notified the UN and warned it may take all measures under international law.
• Ethiopia says the project will more than double national generation capacity and expects export revenues of about $427 million this fiscal year, potentially reaching $1 billion annually by supplying neighbours including Kenya, Tanzania and Djibouti.