KEYIR NEWS:- Ethiopia is entering the final stretch of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project, with the installation of three remaining turbines scheduled for completion in the next three weeks. This milestone will bring the long-anticipated 6,450MW hydropower plant significantly closer to full operational status.
The move comes as the government officially announces that GERD is in its completion phase, with an inauguration ceremony planned for September 2025. Once all turbines are operational, the dam is expected to double the country’s current electricity output, transforming the energy landscape and positioning the nation as a regional power exporter.
Built along the Blue Nile in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, the GERD has long been a symbol of national pride and energy sovereignty. Its gradual rollout has already seen two turbines generating power intermittently since 2022, supplying electricity to parts of the national grid. The addition of three more turbines will significantly boost power generation capacity ahead of the final commissioning phase.
“This marks a defining moment in the push for energy security and industrialisation,” said a senior official at the Ministry of Water and Energy.
Beyond meeting domestic energy demands, GERD is central to the broader vision of becoming an East African power hub. Government plans include exporting surplus electricity to neighbouring countries such as Sudan, Kenya, and Djibouti.
Despite geopolitical tensions surrounding the project, particularly with downstream countries, the final phase of GERD signals the government's determination to leverage its natural resources for national development and regional integration.
The next few weeks will be crucial, as technical teams work around the clock to complete turbine installation, fine-tuning, and grid synchronisation ahead of the official launch.