The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was officially inaugurated on Tuesday (September 9) in Guba, Benishangul-Gumuz region, in a ceremony attended by leaders of neighboring countries, Heads of African Regional and Continental Institutions, Senior government officials, religious leaders, and prominent public figures, among others. The launching ceremony has become a leading international news story, drawing wide coverage from global and regional media outlets, and has been portrayed as both a milestone in African development and a powerful symbol of national achievement.
China Global Television Network (CGTN) hailed the GERD as “one of Africa’s most audacious feats of engineering,” emphasizing its scale and complexity. Standing 145 meters tall and stretching 1.7 kilometers across the Blue Nile, the dam represents a remarkable achievement in modern hydropower development, stated the outlet.
Notably, CGTN highlighted that the construction of the dam was uniquely financed by Ethiopians themselves, including citizens, civil servants, and members of the diaspora, with no reliance on foreign loans. This approach, according to CGTN, elevated the GERD beyond a hydropower facility, turning it into a symbol of sovereignty and national pride.
Xinhua News Agency focused on the atmosphere of the ceremony, reporting the remarks of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that the dam would strengthen the national economy by supporting industrial growth, enhance livelihoods, and foster energy cooperation in the region. Bloomberg echoed these sentiments, calling the project a significant boost for Ethiopia’s economy by addressing power shortages and catalyzing growth in the manufacturing sector. The dam’s projected capacity of 5,150 megawatts will boost electricity exports to Kenya, Djibouti, and Sudan, while also better positioning Ethiopia to supply power to Tanzania.
Al Jazeera highlighted Prime Minister Abiy’s vision of the GERD as a “shared opportunity” to promote regional growth and energy security. Similarly, Al Arabiya praised the strategic role of the dam in Ethiopia’s development agenda, pointing out its potential to electrify millions of homes and serve as a sustainable energy source for surrounding nations. The outlet also noted that the financing of the dam, 91% through the central bank of Ethiopia and the rest from public contributions, underscored the nation’s commitment to building with its own resources.
Reuters covered Prime Minister Abiy’s reassurances that the GERD would benefit the entire region by ensuring a stable water supply and helping mitigate climate-related challenges like floods and droughts. The report also highlighted the potential of the dam to expand electricity access to the nearly half of Ethiopians who lacked it as recently as 2022.
German media provided in-depth coverage of the inauguration. ARD, Germany’s leading public broadcaster, called the GERD a “monument of hydropower,” with an output comparable to four nuclear power plants. The report included expert commentary from Nairobi and Cairo, portraying the dam as a key factor in Ethiopia’s emergence as a major energy hub in East Africa. ARD emphasized that Ethiopia had now “created facts on the ground,” pointing to the project’s completion despite diplomatic and financial challenges.
The New Times offered a more reflective perspective, framing the GERD as a testament to African dignity, self-confidence, and ability to shape its own future. The outlet noted that the dam symbolizes the power of an African nation to chart its own path and achieve development through unity and determination.
In North Africa, Morocco’s Medi 1 Radio and Television called the GERD a historic milestone with the potential to transform Ethiopia’s economy. The outlet emphasized the impact of the dam on doubling national power supply, reducing fossil fuel reliance, and boosting job creation and investment.
France 24 portrayed the inauguration as a unifying event in the country. It celebrated the GERD as Africa’s largest hydroelectric project and a beacon of resilience, having been completed entirely through domestic funding. It highlighted the dam’s expected contribution to industrial development and its potential to generate up to $1 billion annually in export revenue.
As global attention turns toward the growing influence of Ethiopia in regional energy dynamics, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam stands not just as an engineering masterpiece but as a symbol of determination, unity, and visionary leadership. Built by the people, the GERD represents a new era in African self-reliance and shared progress.