Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Ritter to Al Mayadeen: Trump has put the international community in a state of threat
Ritter to Al Mayadeen: Trump's theatrical demonstration to save face, but he achieved nothing noteworthy
Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi: Trump ignored the Constitution in his strikes on Iran
Scott Ritter to Al Mayadeen: Trump’s strikes on Iran are a sow of force
National Nuclear Safety System Center statement: Radiation detection systems reported no signs of contamination, according to recorded data
Iran’s National Nuclear Safety System Center: There is no threat to residents living near the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities
Saudi Arabia's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority: No radiation leak detected after US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities
Iranian Parliament Member Manan Raisi: No damage has been recorded to underground facilities, and there is no radiation leak
Ansar Allah Political Bureau: The aggression against Iran is a flagrant violation of all international laws and conventions
IRNA:Local residents near Fordow reported no signs of a major explosion

Ethiopia completes third filling of Nile mega-dam

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Aug 2022 20:46
4 Min Read

The massive $4.2 billion dam, which is expected to be Africa's largest hydroelectric scheme, has been at the center of a regional dispute since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011.

  • x
  • Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work. (Archive)
    Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work (Archive)

Ethiopia announced Friday that it had completed the third filling of its Blue Nile mega-dam, a new milestone that could heighten tensions with downstream neighbors Egypt and Sudan.

The news comes just a day after Ethiopia announced the start of electricity production from the second turbine at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the country's northwest.

"Today as you see behind me, the third filling is complete," Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said from the dam site in images broadcast on state television.

"The Nile is a gift of God given to us for Ethiopians to make use of it, “he added.

The massive $4.2 billion dam, which is expected to be Africa's largest hydroelectric scheme, has been at the center of a regional dispute since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011.

What do you need to know?

Despite African Union-sponsored talks, Ethiopia and its downstream neighbors Egypt and Sudan have yet to reach an agreement on the GERD's operations.

Because of their reliance on Nile waters, Cairo and Khartoum see it as a threat.

However, Ethiopia sees it as critical to the electrification and development of Africa's second most populous country.

It was one of Africa's fastest-growing economies until November 2020, when war broke out in northern Ethiopia between federal government forces and Tigray People's Liberation Front.

Related News

We aim to operate three new turbines in Renaissance Dam: Ethiopian PM

Talks with Ethiopia failed, Egypt ready to defend its interests

Egypt and Sudan had no immediate reaction to Friday's developments.

However, Egypt, an arid country that relies on the Nile for about 97 percent of its irrigation and drinking water, protested to the UN Security Council last month that the third filling was underway.

Nonetheless, Abiy sought to reassure Egypt and Sudan about the dam's impact.

"When we set out to build a dam on the Nile, we said from the beginning that we did not want to make the river our own," he said on Twitter.  

"We hope that just like Ethiopia, the other gifted nations of the Nile, Sudan, and Egypt, will get to utilize their share."  

On Thursday, he called for talks to reach an agreement on the dam, but he insisted that the third filling was not causing any water shortages downstream.

A look back

The GERD's vast reservoir was filled in 2020, and it now holds 22 billion cubic meters of water out of a total capacity of 74 billion.

"Compared to last year, we have reached 600 meters which is 25 meters higher than the previous filling," Abiy said Friday.

It is worth noting that Ethiopia started producing electricity from the GERD in February. The two operational turbines, out of a total of 13, can currently generate 750 megawatts of electricity.

It is expected to produce more than 5,000 megawatts in the end, more than doubling Ethiopia's current output.

On his account, Project manager Kifle Horo revealed Thursday that the dam was now more than 83 percent complete and that the goal was for it to be finished in the next two and a half years.

The structure is 145 meters (475 feet) high and 1.8 kilometers long, straddling a Nile tributary in the Benishangul-Gumuz region of northwestern Ethiopia, near the Sudanese border.

The project was launched by Meles Zenawi, the Tigrayan leader who ruled Ethiopia for more than two decades until his death in 2012.

  • Ethiopia
  • GERD
  • Sudan
  • Egypt
  • Nile mega-dam

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025
Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

  • Palestine
  • 18 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iran’s Bavar-373 air defense system on display during a military drill (Mehr News Agency)
Politics

Iran intercepts Israeli drones near Tehran, multiple cities

The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran warns aid to 'Israel' will be treated as aggression

US President Donald Trump arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Friday, June 20, 2025, en route to Montclair, New Jersey (AP)
Politics

Trump, Erdogan made covert attempts to hold talks with Iran: Axios

Ansar Allah supporters surround a giant Iranian flag during an anti-US and anti-'Israel' weekly rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 20, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US ships in Red Sea will be targeted if US attacks Iran: YAF

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS