What is the GERD (The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam)?

• The Nile is the longest rivers in the world, it is 6,650 kilometers long.

• The Nile waters are shared by 11 countries in Africa (Burundi, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda).

  • Ethiopian rivers and streams contribute 85 percent of the Nile waters.

  • Egypt receives 86 percent of the Nile waters.

• The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is one of the mega development projects undertaken by the Government of Ethiopia.

• The construction of GERD on the Nile river started in April 2011. Other earlier dams built on the Nile include Fincha, Tana Beles and Tekeze.

• Once completed, GERD is expected to be the largest Dam in Africa and the tenth largest in the world.

  • GERD is 170 meters in height, lies 45 km from Sudanese borders and is 2,500 kilometers from Egypt;

  • GERD is expected to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity, 16 turbines (each 375 megawatts);

  • GERD construction cost is estimated at US$5 billion dollars. 100 percent of funding comes from Ethiopia’s own resources and the people of Ethiopia.

  • GERD’s first filling was completed in July 2020.

  • GERD is expected to be fully completed and operational by August 2023.

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*Source: excerpts from: “The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Challenges and Opportunities.” Presentation by S. Salman May 28, 2015