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Ethiopia begins generating between June and August
- GERD to add 13.5 bcm of water during the rainy season
- 650km power lines will connect the GERD to the national grid
Ethiopia is set to begin generating electricity from the Blue River Dam. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will add about 13.5 billion cubic meters (bcf) of water to the GERD during the rainy season. The controversial dam which is located in Ethiopia contributes about 80% water to the River Nile which flows through Sudan and Egypt.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry has responded to opposition from the Egyptian government on its plans to fill the dam this coming June. “Ethiopia will not tolerate any move that’s aimed at disrupting the water filling process, its operation, and water releasing scheme” the ministry stated. The GERD has been the subject of negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. The countries have however, failed to come to an agreement on how to adequately share water from the River Nile.