The Office of PM Abiy Ahmed announced on Tuesday July 21 that the first-round target of filling the mega-dam on Abay River, the main tributary of the River Nile, commenced. The office said the current rainfall and runoff situation in the region made conditions conducive to fill the dam “It has become evident over the past two weeks in the rainy season that the $4.6bn GERD (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) first year filling target has been achieved”. This will then allow for the first set of turbines to be tested. The announcement came on a day that African leaders held a virtual meeting on Tuesday to try to resolve the ongoing disputes surrounding the Dam. There has been diplomatic tension since construction began in 2011. Ethiopia regards the hydroelectric project as crucial for economic growth for the country and a vital source of energy.
The PM office stated that the extraordinary meeting undertaken at heads of state level concluded with all parties reaching a major common understanding which paves the way for a breakthrough agreement. PM Abiy appreciated the resolve to for an African solution to African problems undertaken through existing regional mechanism and he reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to continued equitable and reasonable utilization of Abay River waters and without significant harm to Sudan and Egypt. Accordingly, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan agreed for further technical discussions on the filling to continue in the AU led process proceeding to a comprehensive agreement. Discussions were mediated by current African Union chair and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The talks among the country’s leaders illustrated the critical importance placed on finding a way to resolve tensions over the Nile River. The three countries agreed on further technical discussions on the filling to continue in the African Union (AU) led process and proceed to a comprehensive agreement. In the talks, Ethiopia reiterated its commitment to a balanced and win-win negotiation to ascertain that the Abay River will benefit all three countries.
Ethiopia says it will take between five to seven years to fill up the dam to its maximum flood season capacity of 74bcm. At that point, the lake that will be created could stretch back some 250km (155 miles) upstream. Between each subsequent flood season the reservoir will be lowered to 49.3bcm. When operational, GERD will generate 6,000 megawatts making it the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa providing power to around 65 million Ethiopians that currently lack regular electricity.
