Africa's largest hydroelectric project opened

Ethiopia's Hedasi (Renaissance) Dam, the continent's largest hydroelectric project on the Nile River, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The massive dam, whose foundation was laid 14 years ago, was officially inaugurated with an official ceremony, according to Ethiopian state television channel Fana.

GEOPOLITICAL CENTER OF POWER

The dam, which was laid in 2011 with an investment of approximately $4 billion, is 1,800 meters long and 175 meters high, making it Africa's largest hydroelectric facility. At full capacity, it is expected to generate over 5,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling Ethiopia's current energy production.

REGIONAL TENSION

The Hedasi Dam has been a source of frequent disputes between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan since its construction. Although 80 percent of the Nile's water originates in Ethiopian territory, the country only benefits from 3 percent of this resource. The Addis Ababa government aims to close the country's energy deficit with the dam and export the surplus.

INVITATION TO PARTNERSHIP

Ethiopian Water Minister Habtamu Itefa stated ahead of the opening that the dam was not intended to harm any country. He called on neighboring countries to cooperate, stating that the project would benefit not only the more than 100 million people in Ethiopia but also other countries in the region.

TRIPLE CRISIS DEEPENS

Egypt and Sudan, however, argue that a tripartite agreement must be reached before filling the dam to avoid losing their rights to the annual Nile water share. Despite all objections, Ethiopia completed the dam's first filling in July 2020 and began electricity production on February 20, 2022.

Source: Headline News