Ethiopia says it has completed final filling of controversial dam

ADDIS ABABA, SETPEMBER 10, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The Ethiopian government on Sunday said it has completed the fourth and final filling of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The dam is located on the Blue Nile River, and its construction has been a source of contention between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.

In a statement, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed thank the people of Ethiopia for their support and cooperation.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the successful completion of the fourth and final filling of the Renaissance Dam,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday morning.

“Ethiopians have helped us by working together. Congratulations to all who participated in the work with their money, knowledge, energy, and prayers,” the prime minister added.

የሕዳሴው ግድብን አራተኛና የመጨረሻ ሙሌት በተሳካ ሁኔታ መጠናቀቁን ሳበሥር በታላቅ ደስታ ነው። ኢትዮጵያውያን ተባብረን በመሥራታችን ፈጣሪ ረድቶናል። በገንዘባቸው፣ በዕውቀታቸው፣ በጉልበታቸውና በጸሎታቸው በሥራው ውስጥ የተሳተፋችሁ ሁሉ… pic.twitter.com/Z6MISpmFIQ

— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) September 10, 2023

The completion of the filling of the GERD is a major milestone for Ethiopia. The dam is expected to generate up to 5,150 megawatts of electricity, which will help to meet the country’s growing energy needs.

The dam is also expected to boost Ethiopia’s economy by providing irrigation for agriculture and water for industrial development.

The completion of the GERD is likely to increase tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.

Egypt has long been concerned that the dam will reduce its share of the Nile River water, and Sudan is worried about the impact of the dam on its own dams.