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One of the most daring endeavors in Africa in recent years has been the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. This is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the world and it is the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa. While it took 10 years and cost 5 billion dollars to finish the project in 2020, the dam has only been operational since 2022. The purpose of the project was to provide Ethiopia with clean and efficient power since the country was dealing with an energy shortage. Today, the dam delivers electricity to the grid at a rate of 375 MW.
Ethiopia is a country that has a lot of power woes. Many citizens do not have direct access to electricity in their homes. As a result, Ethiopians consider this a national matter and fear that they will be dependent on others for power. The Renaissance Dam plans to change that and provide people with sustainable energy.
However, the Renaissance Dam is not without its controversies as well. As a matter of fact, since the time of its announcement, many neighboring nations have come forward with their complaints about the project. Especially, in countries where the Nile passes through like Sudan and Egypt, government officials and environmentalists criticized Ethiopia’s endeavor.
The main point of these complaints is obviously the concern over the water of the Nile. Ethiopia generates energy by filling up the dam with water from the river. The neighbors of the country expressed their fear of a drought. Africa and the Middle East are locations that are already short on water. Therefore, cutting a piece of one of the biggest natural water sources in the continent has given way to disputes.
While many countries reacted in some type of way to the dam, Ethiopia has promised to share the electricity they generate with these countries. Through an official agreement with some of the African nations, the country attempts to ease the worries and prove that the project has more upsides than downsides.
