Ethiopia has more than doubled electricity production from its mega-dam on the Blue Nile after activating two additional turbines.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) now generates 1,550 megawatts, as reported by GERD.
The GERD, a $4.2-billion project, began producing electricity in February 2022.
With a total of four turbines now operational, the dam’s power output has reached 1,550MW, with future plans to exceed 5,000MW once fully operational.
Ethiopia considers GERD vital for electrifying and developing the country, where nearly half of the 120 million population lacks reliable electricity.
The dam’s completion marks a shift from construction to operation.
Despite regional disputes, Ethiopia asserts that the GERD will not diminish water flow downstream, aiming to manage water resources effectively.
The dam’s spillways are also releasing 2,800 cubic meters of water to downstream nations.
Egypt and Sudan have expressed concerns about the dam, fearing it could jeopardize their access to Nile waters.
Negotiations have yet to resolve these tensions, but Ethiopia remains committed to expanding its electricity network.
