Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has significantly boosted its electricity production, doubling its output following the activation of two additional turbines.
The controversial dam, a major source of tension with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan, is now generating a total of 1,550 megawatts of power. The GERD announced this milestone on social media late Tuesday, marking a significant step forward in its development.
“The GERD has officially transitioned from a construction project to a fully operational facility,” the dam’s authorities stated, adding that the concrete dam itself is now complete. The two newly operational turbines each generate 400 megawatts, complementing the existing two turbines that produce 375 megawatts each.
Since its initial power generation in February 2022, the GERD has rapidly expanded its capacity. When fully operational, the dam is expected to produce more than 5,000 megawatts, a substantial increase that will more than double Ethiopia’s current electricity output.
Egypt and Sudan have expressed concerns about the dam’s operation without a formal trilateral agreement, fearing that it could jeopardize their access to the Nile River’s vital waters.
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