Ethiopia has commenced power generation from its hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile River for the first time in a bid to provide electricity for its citizens to boost economic activities.
The East African nation energised the $4.2 billion (£3.8bn) dam located in the western Benishangul-Gumuz region on Sunday, according to a BBC report.
The project has been a source of contention between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan since its construction started in 2011.
Sudan and Egypt fear the project could reduce their share of Nile waters.
But Ethiopia insists the dam is key to its development.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is Africa’s biggest hydroelectric project to date.
The GERD is expected to generate over 5,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling the nation’s electricity output when it is fully completed.
Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the project which is about 83.9 per cent completed on Sunday, February 20, 2022.
Abiy, accompanied by high-ranking officials, toured the power generation station and pressed a series of buttons on an electronic screen, move officials said initiated production.
“From now on, there will be nothing that will stop Ethiopia,” Abiy said.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officiated an event that saw one of the 13 turbines of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) begin power generation.
The Prime Minister sought to assure neighbouring nations his country did not wish to harm their interests.
“Ethiopia’s main interest is to bring light to 60 per cent of the population who are suffering in darkness to save the labour of our mothers who are carrying wood on their backs to get energy,” Abiy said as carried by dw.com
“As you can see, this water will generate energy while flowing as it previously flowed to Sudan and Egypt, unlike the rumours that say the Ethiopian people and government are damming the water to starve Egypt and Sudan.”
The lead engineer noted there was still work to be done.
“We just started generating power but that doesn’t mean the project is completed,” the dam’s Project Manager, Kifle Horo said.
“It will take from two and a half to three years to complete it,” Kifle added.
Egypt, which lies downstream and depends almost completely on the Nile for its irrigation and drinking water, is worried this will affect the levels of water flowing into the country.
It, therefore, wants a guarantee of a certain volume of water coming into Egypt.
However, Ethiopia is reluctant to be tied to a certain figure of how much water to release as its priority is to make sure there is enough water to operate Africa’s largest hydroelectric plant.
Sudan is also worried about how the dam will affect its water levels.
Last year, Sudan was taken by surprise when Ethiopia decided to shut three of the four diversion outlets for the water.
This led to lower levels of water going downstream which disrupted Sudan’s pumping stations for irrigation and municipal water supply.
Both countries have been vying for a deal with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the dam but negotiations have failed to make headway.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com