Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Gravity dam and hydroelectric power station on the Blue Nile in Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz Region, near the Sudanese border. Its main section is a tall grey concrete face with visible vertical construction joints, beside a lower white-roofed building with a row of dark vertical elements; a stepped spillway chute continues to the right. The reservoir behind it reached 640 metres in October 2024.
An American agency identified the site during a survey of the Blue Nile between 1956 and 1964. Construction started in April 2011 and has continued since.
The dam symbolizes the country's determination to secure energy and economic development through its own infrastructure. The project is seen as a sign of national pride and shows the will to cooperate regionally in the power sector.
The dam stands on the Blue Nile in the Metekel Zone of Benishangul-Gumuz, about 15 km east of the Sudanese border. It was formally inaugurated on 9 September 2025 with an installed capacity of 5.15 gigawatts, and the reservoir reached its final level of 640 metres in October 2024.
The system features three spillways with radial gates that together can discharge up to 14,700 cubic meters of water per second. This capacity allows even heavy flooding from the Blue Nile to be managed.
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