Less than half of Ethiopians have access to electricity, a lower percentage than most other African countries and a much lower percentage than most other countries in the world. To change this, the Ethiopian government began constructing a dam on the Abbay River in 2011 that will rank as Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam.
Commendably, The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has entered its final phase through the united efforts and perseverance of Ethiopians, according to the Executive Committee of the Dam Coordinating National Council.
Upon commencement of the project, GERD was estimated to cost close to 5 billion US dollars, about 7% of the 2016 Ethiopian Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Due to lack of international finance for the project, Ethiopia is forced to finance it with crowd funding through internal fund raising in the form of selling bond and persuading employees to contribute a portion of their incomes.
Denial of international finance for projects on the Blue Nile River has for long been because of Egypt’s persistent campaign to maintain presumed hegemony on the Nile water share. This long ingrained, stubborn stance initiated Ethiopians across the nation regardless of various differences to stand together to finalize the project.
What the government recently announced testifies this reality. The general public has contributed over 18.7 billion Birr for the construction of the Dam up to November 2023.
During the regular meeting held in Addis Ababa recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen who is also Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Dam Coordinating National Council said that Ethiopians have moved the Dam to its final phase by allocating their money, knowledge and expertise in the past 12 years.
Stating that the construction of the dam has currently reached 94.6%, he said the Ethiopian people have also demonstrated that everything is possible spirit to the whole world by providing the support tirelessly and carrying out basin conservation activities.
Among the grand driving reasons for the construction of this mega project are access to light for more than 60% of Ethiopian’s living in the darkness in the 21st century who are mostly residing in the rural areas of the country; dire need for power towards industries that have suffered of continuous power breakdown; and necessity of renewable energy worldwide to mitigate climate change resulted from high carbon emission among others.
Developmental issue could also not be put aside as the country is struggling to feed its more than 120 million people thereby securing food security. In this regard, the Dam gives good opportunity to carry out multidimensional developmental activities that include sea tourism, lake shore development such as lodges and resorts, fishery for local consumption and foreign market and small irrigated farms.
The successful completion of GERD without explicit support from western financial institutions will have a significant impact on the perception and awareness of Nile water development. The parallels between the planning, construction and financing of High Aswan dam and GERD are stark reminders of critical role of international community to promote co-operation and avoid unintended and lasting ripples on the socio-economic and political landscape of the region.
Regardless of financial denial of the international community to GERD construction, Ethiopians are getting nearer to see the fruit of their efforts. And its completion has big impact for them since they all, from all walks of life, have stretched their hands for the iconic project. Its impact surpasses national pride. By completing the project successfully, the country will take high position in the geopolitical landscape of the region and the globe as well.
The major fact should not be forgotten in the due course is that Ethiopia is constructing the Dam not to harm the interest of any party especially those in the lower basin. The project benefits the region in many ways. Thus, countries in the downstream should stand alongside Ethiopia for the sake of their own benefit instead of going against it.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 6 JANUARY 2024
