Ethiopia to Inaugurate Giant Nile Dam Despite Regional Concerns

Ethiopia will officially open the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Tuesday, a massive project on the Blue Nile expected to more than double the country’s electricity output.

The dam, under construction since 2011, will produce over 5,000 megawatts of power. Ethiopia hopes this will bring electricity to millions of citizens who still rely on kerosene lamps and firewood, and also allow the country to export energy to neighbors.

Many Ethiopians see the project as life-changing.

«With the completion of the dam, our entire community is now happy,» said Fanuse Adete, a widowed mother of seven who lives near Addis Ababa.

But the project has caused tension with Egypt and Sudan, who fear reduced water levels downstream. Egyptian officials warn it could threaten their water supply, while Sudanese experts say uncoordinated water releases might cause flooding or drought.

Ethiopia insists the dam will not harm its neighbors. Water Minister Habtamu Itefa said the project can bring benefits across the Nile Basin, from Uganda to Egypt.

For ordinary Ethiopians, however, the focus is on progress.

«We want to see more development, and we want to see more electricity become part of our daily life,» said Addis Ababa resident Amakelech Debalke.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also tells the story how The Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth-largest lake, has become one of the planet’s greatest ecological disasters.