Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Damታላቁ የኢዮጵያ ሕዳሴ ግድብ |
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The main dam after its final filling in 2024
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 Location of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
ታላቁ የኢዮጵያ ሕዳሴ ግድብ in Ethiopia |
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| Official name | |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Location | Guba, Benishangul-Gumuz Region |
| Coordinates | 11°12′55″N 35°05′35″E / 11.21528°N 35.09306°E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 2 April 2011 |
| Opening date | 21 July 2020 |
| Construction cost | US$5 billion |
| Owner(s) | Ethiopian Electric Power |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity, roller-compacted concrete |
| Impounds | Blue Nile River |
| Height | 145 m (476 ft) |
| Length | 1,780 m (5,840 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 655 m (2,149 ft) |
| Dam volume | 10,400,000 m3 (13,600,000 cu yd) |
| Spillways | 1 gated, 2 ungated |
| Spillway type | 6 sector gates for the gated spillway |
| Spillway capacity | 14,700 m3/s (520,000 cu ft/s) for the gated spillway |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Nigat Lake |
| Total capacity | 74×109 m3 (60,000,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 59.2×109 m3 (48,000,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Inactive capacity | 14.8×109 m3 (12,000,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 172,250 km2 (66,510 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 1,874 km2 (724 sq mi) |
| Maximum length | 246 km (153 mi) |
| Maximum water depth | 140 m (460 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 640 m (2,100 ft) |
| Power station | |
| Operator(s) | Ethiopian Electric Power |
| Commission date | 2022–2025 |
| Turbines |
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| Installed capacity | 5.15 GW |
| Capacity factor | 28.6% |
| Annual generation | 15.76 TWh (est., planned) |
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a huge dam built on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. It is located in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, close to the border with Sudan. It was formerly known as the Millennium Dam.
The main reason for building the dam was to make electricity. Ethiopia needed more power for its homes and businesses, and the dam helps provide it. With a planned capacity of 5.15 gigawatts, it is the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa. This means it uses the power of moving water to create electricity.
Construction on the dam started in 2011. The process of filling the giant lake behind the dam, called a reservoir, began in July 2020 and was completed in five stages by 2024. The dam started producing its first electricity in February 2022 and was officially opened on September 9, 2025.
Contents
Why Was the Dam Built?
The idea for a dam on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia is not new. The location was first identified by the United States Bureau of Reclamation between 1956 and 1964. However, due to problems in the country, the project didn't move forward for many years.
In the 2000s, the Ethiopian government decided it was time to build the dam. The country had a major shortage of electricity, which made it hard for the economy to grow. The dam was seen as a way to solve this problem and even sell extra electricity to nearby countries.
The project was first called "Project X" and then the "Millennium Dam." In 2011, it was officially named the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The name shows how important the project is to the people of Ethiopia, as a symbol of growth and a new beginning. The country paid for the dam mostly on its own, with help from its citizens who bought government bonds to support the construction.
Building a Giant Dam
Construction of the dam began on April 2, 2011. The Italian company Salini Impregilo (now Webuild) was chosen to build it. The first major step was to divert the Blue Nile river in May 2013. This allowed workers to build the main part of the dam on dry land.
The project was huge and took many years to complete. By 2020, enough of the dam was built to start filling the reservoir behind it. This was done in several stages during the rainy seasons.
- First filling: July 2020
- Second filling: July 2021
- Third filling: August 2022
- Fourth filling: September 2023
- Fifth and final filling: October 2024
On February 20, 2022, the dam produced electricity for the first time. More turbines were turned on over the next few years as the water level in the reservoir rose. The dam was officially inaugurated in a ceremony on September 9, 2025.
How the Dam Works
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a gravity dam, which means it uses its own massive weight to hold back the water of the Blue Nile. It is made of a special type of concrete called roller-compacted concrete.
Two Dams and a Giant Lake
The project is actually made of two main structures:
- The main dam is 145 meters tall and 1,780 meters long. It holds the power stations that generate electricity.
- A saddle dam is a smaller, 50-meter-high and 4.9-kilometer-long wall that supports the main dam. It helps to keep the water in the reservoir, which is very wide.
Together, these dams created a huge reservoir now called Nigat Lake. When full, it holds 74 billion cubic meters of water and covers an area of 1,874 square kilometers. That's about three times the size of Lake Tana, Ethiopia's largest natural lake.
The dam also has three spillways. These are like safety valves that can release water if the lake gets too full, especially during heavy floods.
Making Electricity
The main purpose of the dam is to generate hydroelectricity. Inside the dam, there are two power houses. These contain large machines called Francis turbines.
When water from the reservoir flows through the dam, it spins these turbines. The spinning turbines then turn generators, which produce electricity. The GERD has 13 turbines in total. The electricity is then sent across the country through large power lines to towns and cities.
Sharing the Nile River
The Nile River is one of the longest rivers in the world and is a vital source of water for several countries. The Blue Nile, where the dam is built, provides most of the water for the main Nile River.
The countries downstream from the dam, especially Egypt and Sudan, depend heavily on the Nile's water. Egypt gets about 90% of its fresh water from the river. Because of this, these countries were worried that the dam would reduce the amount of water flowing to them, especially while the large reservoir was being filled.
This led to serious disagreements between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. For many years, the countries held talks to try to agree on rules for filling and operating the dam. Other countries, including the United States and the African Union, tried to help them find a solution.
Ethiopia has stated that the dam will not harm the downstream countries and might even help by providing a more regular flow of water and preventing floods. However, reaching an agreement that satisfies all three countries has been very difficult.
Benefits and Changes
The dam has brought many benefits but has also caused some significant changes.
Good Things from the Dam
- Electricity: The dam provides a huge amount of electricity for Ethiopia, helping to power homes, schools, and factories.
- Economic Growth: Ethiopia can sell extra electricity to its neighbors, which helps its economy.
- Flood Control: The dam helps control the seasonal flooding of the Blue Nile, which can protect towns and farms downstream in Sudan.
- New Resources: The new reservoir, Nigat Lake, is expected to become a source for fishing, with up to 7,000 tonnes of fish harvested each year. It could also become a popular spot for tourists.
Impact on People and Nature
Building a dam this large also has major impacts.
- Relocation: About 20,000 people had to move from their homes to make way for the dam and the reservoir. The government created new communities for them and provided compensation.
- Environmental Changes: The dam changes the river's ecosystem. It traps silt (rich soil) that would normally flow downstream. This can make farmland downstream less fertile over time, but it also helps extend the life of other dams in Sudan by preventing them from filling up with silt.
- New Lake: The creation of a massive lake has formed a new environment in the region, affecting local plants and animals.
Images for kids
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Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
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The main spillway, in 2024.
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Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam aerial view
See also
In Spanish: Gran Presa del Renacimiento Etíope para niños
- Water politics
- Renewable energy in Ethiopia
- Dams and reservoirs in Ethiopia
- List of power stations in Ethiopia
- Water politics in the Nile Basin
