GERD: A Dream that Ethiopians Have Realized With Perseverance 

 BY A Staff Writer

Ethiopians of all walks of life here and abroad are waiting for the 13th anniversary of the commencement of the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) whose cornerstone was laid by the late Prime Minister Melese Zenawi in 2011. The news of GERD was so overwhelming among Ethiopians in changing the status quo ante to shatter the age-old perception that Ethiopia would not be allowed to develop the Abbay River and generate hydropower.

For many centuries, Ethiopia has been deprived of its natural rights to develop Abbay and  getting loans from international financial institutions. In 2011, the Ethiopian government had to confront this age-old hegemony of the waters and doable standards imposed on the country with determination. Ethiopians regardless of ethnic identity, religion and ideology swiftly responded to the call of the government in unison and geared up to do whatever it takes to build the dam and generate electricity. 

Although the timeline was five years to complete the GERD, due to various factors, the dam has almost taken 13 years to complete. Over the last 13 years, Ethiopia has faced multiple challenges from both within and outside of the country. In particular, Egypt put pressure on Ethiopia to halt the construction of the dam.

Ethiopia’s position has been clear. Abbay is a transboundary River; hence the resource is common to all Nile riparian countries and has to be utilized on win-win approach. Accordingly, Ethiopia called for collaboration and cooperation among the river basin states for mutual benefits and fair use of the waters. To this end, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan signed Declaration of Principles in 2015 in Khartoum. And there have been several tripartite negotiations afterwards, though they did not bear fruits due to the old colonial position of Egypt. 

Ethiopia has also made it clear that the construction of GERD is based on international conventions on the utilization of Transboundary Rivers and was not intended to harm the lower riparian countries in any way but is intended to provide light and power for more than 60% of its population who are still dependent on unhealthy bio-fuel resources.  

Following the last five years where the incumbent government launched comprehensive reforms, the people and the Government of Ethiopia worked in unison, with untold tenacity and determination to address the challenges encountered and complete the dam. Apart from generating electricity, GERD has also huge potential for fishery and ecotourism.

In line with Agenda 2063 and other sub-regional initiatives envisioned by African Union,   GERD offers enormous potential and opportunity for regional development and integration in the Horn of Africa and Africa at large. It will serve as great inspiration for cooperation and coalition building among African countries. Indeed, the future economic development of Africa,  to a greater extent, depends upon coalition building for collaboration and cooperation. GERD has also potential for tourist development in addition to sharing renewable energy which is very important for African economic self-reliance by developing continental energy resources. 

There are 70 islands created in the dam, waiting for  local and foreign investors to engage in the  hospitality industry. 

All told, thanks to the unreserved commitment of the people of Ethiopia and the government, the flagship Ethiopian mega project has reached 95% to be completed in few months of Ethiopian fiscal year. GERD, as the biggest hydropower dam in Africa is being built at the cost of 5 billion USD, clearly exhibits what miracles can Ethiopians perform to their beloved country regardless of the challenges facing them. 

Ethiopia is building the dam to generate electricity to about 60% of its 120 million citizens. While the electricity demand is growing by 30% every year, the dam’s over 5000 megawatt energy would not meet the country's growing needs. 

Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti are already connected with power grid, Ethiopia has also reached agreement with Tanzania to connect with power.
In brief, GERD is a vivid manifestation of Ethiopia’s resolve to prosperity.

Ethiopians ranging from school children to water fetching women, from firewood collectors to public servants, from farmers/pastoralists to investors and foreign citizens of Ethiopian residing overseas have made great contributions to the success of GERD. Not least but last, the local and foreign contractors and engineers labored much from dawn to dusk in a hostile climate along with members of the ENDF to protect the area from any threats.