Ethiopia opened on 8th September 2025 the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to public as a national landmark, a US$5 billion megaproject declared complete by the Government in July, a development that has long been a symbol of the African country’s ambition, pride and resilience.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is located approximately 700 kilometres north - west of the capital of the country Addis Ababa, about 14 kilometres from the border between Ethiopia and Sudan, in the Benishangul - Region along the Blue Nile and is the largest dam in Africa : 1.800 metres long, 170 metres high developed in rolled compacted concrete (RCC).
GERD is a large – scale project, for which innovative and hoc solutions have been developed. A unique element for the construction was the compacted concrete used with advanced research on mixuture, involving world - class experts, a process that has made it possible to significantly increase the setting time of the concrete, with considerable benefits in terms of production and material quality.
The project has created a reservoir that has a surface area of 1.875 square kilometres and a volume of 74 billion billion m³ that collects rainwater and river water and channel it to the main dam, and the average annual outflow which is estimated at around 50 billion m³ of water and this development is also Africa’s largest artificial lake.
Two hydroelectric powers located at the base of the dam on the left banks of the river were installed, with also a secondary dam in loose material (rockfill) with a concrete facing 5 kilometres long and they consist of 13 Francis turbine with a total installed capacity o 5.150 MW and an average production of 15.700 GW/year.
The dam primary goal is to generate hydroelectric power addressing Ethiopia’s energy shortages and enabling electricity exports to neighboring countries, npwadays it is the largest hydroelectric plant in the African continent, and ranking among the world’s top 20.
Currently Ethiopian officials are positioning the dam not only as an engine of power generation but also as a driver of tourism and regional pride.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali during a recent visit to the dam alongside Social Affairs Adviser Deacon Daniel Kibret, described public access as both an economic opportunity and a symbolic gesture to invite Ethiopians, the diaspora and international travellers to see this massive engineering achievement firsthand.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister stated that GERD is not a threat, but a shared opportunity, reiterating that the dam will not reduce downstream flows to Egypt and Sudan. Both countries expressed concerns about Nile water security fuelling tensions with Ethiopia.
Ethiopia hopes that this new national landmark with its lake will become a tourist destination of relevance for boat tours, fishing, birdwatching and eco – tourism and that it will add to the country’s appeal with this new attraction.
Opening it to visitors could have a relevant economic impact, offering a new source of revenue for the Binishangul – Gumuz region where GERD is located and also for the country.
Tourism experts said the dam’s vast reservoir, panoramic viewpoints, and surrounding highlands could become year – round attractions if developed properly.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister announced that visits will begin in the coming weeks and it will coincide with formal inauguration events planned for this month and details on ticketing, hours, and security are expected soon.
Links
https://www.travelmole.com/news/ethiopia-grand-renaissance-dam-national-landmark/
https://www.webuildgroup.com/en/projects/dams-hydroelectric-plants/grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam-project/
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