On Tuesday, Ethiopia held a special event to officially open Africa’s largest dam.
The $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is expected to bring electricity to millions of people in Ethiopia. But the dam has upset Egypt and Sudan, which rely heavily on the Nile River for its water.
The GERD is a massive dam on the Blue Nile River in western Ethiopia. Ethiopia has been working on the dam since 2011.
The basin or “bowl” formed by the dam can hold around 19.5 trillion gallons (74 trillion liters) of water. It can produce 5,150 megawatts of electricity, making it one of the world’s 20 most powerful hydroelectric dams.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is shown before full operations began. The massive basin of water can be seen in the background.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a massive dam on the Blue Nile River in western Ethiopia. The bowl formed by the dam can hold around 19.5 trillion gallons (74 trillion liters) of water. Above, the dam is seen before it was fully running.
For Ethiopia, the dam is a huge source of pride.
The money to build the dam came mainly from Ethiopia and its citizens. The dam will bring more electricity to millions of people in Ethiopia, and will even allow the country to sell electricity to its African neighbors.
Leaders from several African countries attended the opening ceremony yesterday.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the dam was an important success “not only for Ethiopia, but for all Africans.” He said the dam shows “that we, as Black people, can achieve anything we plan.”
An image of the opening of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Speakers and celebrants in the foreground with Ethiopian flags. Water flows through the dam in the background.
For Ethiopia, the dam is a huge source of pride.
The money to build the dam came mainly from Ethiopia and its citizens. The dam will bring more electricity to millions of people in Ethiopia. Leaders from several African countries attended the opening ceremony yesterday (above).
But at least two of Ethiopia’s neighbors, Egypt and Sudan, aren’t happy about the dam. The Blue Nile River is the main river which feeds the Nile. That means the dam gives Ethiopia control over much of the water that these countries depend on.
Egypt gets 90% of its water from the Nile. It’s concerning that Ethiopia could limit water flow to the Nile and cause a drought. The opposite is also a concern, if Ethiopia suddenly released the water behind the dam, it could cause terrible flooding in Egypt and Sudan.
Map showing the location of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Two of Ethiopia’s neighbors, Egypt and Sudan, aren’t happy about the dam.
The Blue Nile River is the main river that feeds the Nile. The dam gives Ethiopia control over much of the water that these countries depend on.
The countries worry that the dam could lead to droughts or floods.
Mr. Abiy claims these countries don’t need to worry. He says the dam is “not a threat, but a shared opportunity.”
Egypt has its own dam on the Nile. Some experts say Egypt has had to use this dam to make up for some of the water lost through Ethiopia’s dam.
But other experts say that the GERD hasn’t caused any serious problems for the downstream countries yet. They point out that Ethiopia was careful in preparing the dam.
It filled the basin behind the dam carefully over five years, only adding water during the rainy seasons.
(News for Kids)
