Addis ababa: GERD, Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam, was officially inaugurated today in a landmark event celebrating a project built by the contributions of millions of Ethiopians. The inauguration ceremony of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), attended by dignitaries from neighboring countries, marked the culmination of a 14-year journey to harness the Abay River for the nation’s development.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild Group, highlighted the immense effort and vision behind the project during the inauguration. He first extended a congratulatory message from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. The dam, with its massive reservoir now fully filled, is poised to triple the nation’s energy supply, with a generating capacity equivalent to three nuclear plants, the CEO stated.
This surge in power from GERD is set to provide electricity to an estimated 35 million people, with the potential for Ethiopia to sell surplus energy to neighboring countries, thereby strengthening regional relationships and fostering peace, Salini elaborated. He reflected on the long road to GERD’s completion, calling the dam’s success a “dream come true for me and for the nation.”
Salini spoke of the dam as a symbol of Ethiopian resilience, noting that the country undertook the project against all odds and without external financing. He elaborated on issues related to GERD: “No one wanted this country to build this project, no one wanted to finance it. Many political issues, too many problems, and no easy solutions.” The CEO emphasized that the project was a testament to the Ethiopian people, who contributed to its funding by purchasing bonds. He quoted the national mantra, “It was my dam,” and stated, “This is it. It is their dam.”
Salini also paid tribute to the workers, engineers, and technicians who made the project a reality. Beyond the physical structure, he highlighted the significant capacity-building achieved, noting that over 25,000 young Ethiopians were trained on the job, acquiring valuable skills essential for the country’s future.
Drawing parallels between the dam and the nation’s character, Salini compared Ethiopians to their renowned long-distance runners who train at high altitudes to win. He described the overwhelming psyche of Ethiopians: “they do not bend or step back and renounce what they believe and want.” Salini concluded by saying that the inauguration was just the beginning, asserting, “The future has only started today.”