Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Location, Capacity, Size, Type, Timeline
Ethiopia officially declared the GERD fully complete in July 2025 with final preparations for a grand inauguration slated for September 2025.
Construction began in 2011 and concluded structurally around 2023.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is located in the Benishangul-Gumuz region of western Ethiopia, near the border with Sudan.
đź“Ť Physical Location Details of GERD:
Feature
Description
Region
Benishangul-Gumuz
Zone
Metekel Zone
Woreda (District)
Guba Woreda
River
Blue Nile River (locally known as Abay River)
Distance from Addis Ababa
~500–550 km northwest
Distance from Sudanese Border
~15–20 km east
Coordinates
11.2000° N, 35.0833° E
🗺️ Location Summary:
GERD is constructed on the Blue Nile, Ethiopia’s primary contribution to the Nile River system.
The site is remote, accessible mainly by military roads and infrastructure corridors built specifically for the project.
The nearest major city is Assosa, but most access is controlled and restricted due to security and operational sensitivity.
This area is not served by a formal street address like in urban zones. Access to GERD is managed by the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEP) and requires government or utility authorization.
Key technical details:
Size: Approximately 1.8 km wide and 145–175 m high, with a reservoir surface area between 1,874–1,880 km²—roughly larger than London, Paris, and Dublin combined.
Capacity: Installed power capacity originally planned up to ~6,450 MW, but currently realized at 5,150 MW across 13 turbines (11×400 MW and 2×375 MW) with projected annual generation around 15.7 TWh.
📌 While some sources refer to 6,000–6,500 MW as the design goal, final output rests at 5,150 MW. Different sources vary in stated capacity.
🌍 Regional Impact & Energy Export
The dam is positioned to double Ethiopia’s previous electricity capacity, empowering millions who currently lack reliable power.
Ethiopia is poised to become a regional energy exporter, with opportunities to supply Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and others.
⚠️ Downstream Concerns & Diplomatic Fallout
Egypt remains firmly opposed to GERD’s operation without a legally binding agreement regarding water allocation, drought protocols, and downstream flows. Egypt has labeled Ethiopia’s unilateral completion of the dam as violating international law.
Sudan’s stance has shifted: while previously resistant, it now appears more amenable to cooperation—especially given potential benefits like flood regulation and electricity access.
Negotiations, including those mediated by the African Union, have repeatedly stalled; no binding trilateral agreement has yet been finalized.
đź“… Timeline Summary
Milestone Date
Construction Start 2011 Partial Operation & First Power Generation 2022 Reservoir Final Filling September 2023 Structural Completion Approximately 2023–24 Official Completion Announcement July 2025 Planned Inauguration September 2025
🧠Strategic Significance
Represents a $4–5 billion Ethiopian-funded mega-project, largely financed domestically via bonds and public contributions—underscoring national determination.
Seen domestically as “a gift to generations” and an emblem of Ethiopia’s sovereign development path.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has emphasized GERD as an opportunity for shared prosperity, asserting that “prosperity for one should mean prosperity for all.”
It spans nearly 1,880 km², aligning with claims about its enormous scale.
Its generating capacity lies around 5,150 MW, though earlier projections ranged up to ~6,500 MW.
Egypt remains strongly opposed, Sudan is more cooperative, and no legally binding water-sharing agreement is in place.
Ethiopia is now a credible regional energy power, with the potential to transform East Africa’s energy landscape.
🔧 Technical Aspects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)
1. Dam Type & Structural Design
Type: Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) Gravity Dam RCC dams are built with a dry mix of concrete laid in successive layers—similar to paving a road—allowing fast and cost-effective construction while maintaining structural integrity.
Main Dam Dimensions: Feature Measurement Height ~145–175 meters Length ~1,800 meters (1.8 km) Crest Width ~10 meters Base Width ~120 meters
Saddle Dam:
An auxiliary rock-fill embankment dam located ~5 km southwest of the main dam.
Length: ~5 km
Height: ~50 meters
Purpose: Holds back water in areas where the terrain dips to prevent reservoir leakage.
2. Reservoir Capacity and Hydrology
Surface Area: ~1,874 to 1,880 km²
Total Storage Capacity: ~74 billion cubic meters (BCM)
Live Storage (usable water): ~59.2 BCM
Dead Storage (inactive water): ~14.8 BCM
Catchment Area: ~172,250 km²
Located on the Blue Nile River, which contributes ~59% of the Nile’s annual flow at Aswan.
Annual Inflow: ~49 BCM (varies with seasonal rainfall in Ethiopian Highlands)
3. Power Generation System
Installed Capacity: 5,150 megawatts (MW) (revised from earlier target of 6,450 MW)
Turbines:
13 Francis-type turbines
11 turbines Ă— 400 MW
2 turbines Ă— 375 MW
Hydraulic Head: ~140 meters (effective height of water drop)
Annual Energy Production: ~15,760 GWh (Gigawatt-hours)
Powerhouses:
One on each bank (right and left) of the river
Equipped with transformers, control systems, cooling systems, and ventilation
4. Construction Materials & Methods
Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC):
Used for the main dam—fast placement, less cement, and low heat of hydration
Rock Fill and Earth Fill:
Saddle dam uses compacted rock and soil layers with a waterproof core
Intake Structures:
Designed to channel water from the reservoir into the turbines efficiently
Spillway Capacity:
Controlled via radial gates
Design allows for the discharge of ~14,700 mÂł/s to manage floodwaters
5. Transmission Infrastructure
High-voltage power lines connect GERD to Ethiopia’s national grid
Plans to link to the East African Power Pool (EAPP) to facilitate energy exports to:
Kenya
Djibouti
Sudan
Eventually: South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania
6. Environmental & Structural Safety Systems
Sediment Management:
The Blue Nile carries heavy silt loads. GERD includes sediment flushing outlets to prolong turbine life and maintain reservoir capacity.
Seismic Safety:
Located in a relatively stable tectonic zone, but structural designs include stress modeling and redundancy to withstand minor earthquakes.
Environmental Monitoring:
Sensors measure water levels, turbidity, seismic vibrations, and structural shifts to ensure real-time safety and system stability.
7. Monitoring & Automation
SCADA System:
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition enables remote monitoring, turbine control, fault detection, and automated grid synchronization.
Instrumentation:
Includes piezometers, extensometers, inclinometers, and strain gauges to monitor structural behavior.
