GERD catalyst for regional economic integration: MoFA

Addis Ababa, April 4, 2025 (FMC)— The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is poised to become a critical catalyst for regional economic integration by offering substantial benefits to East and Southern Africa, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Affairs Spokesperson Nebiat Getachew recalled the unprecedented diplomatic pressures against Ethiopia, noting that those mounting diplomatic challenges were unreasonable.

GERD is not intended to harm any nation, but rather to serve as a beacon of regional prosperity, he said.

According to him, the use of the power generated from this massive dam will be for the regional countries, which will be a cause for integration.

”Although it is a national project built by Ethiopians, it’s going to be a regional project, because the use of the power generated from this massive dam will be for the regional countries, which will be a cause for integration.”

The dam also has a Pan-African dimension, he stated, adding that the Africa Agenda 2063 is based on integrating Africans for joint prosperity and development.

“It also has a Pan-African dimension. The Africa Agenda 2063 is based on integrating Africans for joint prosperity and development. For that, it contributes significantly towards that goal as well.”

The GERD will of course address Ethiopia’s acute energy needs, where approximately 65 percent of the population lacks access to electricity.

Nebiat emphasized that Ethiopia’s intention is mainly focused on developing its own resources to make use of power supply for citizens of the country.

“And against this background, any initiative to address this critical problem of supplying energy or electricity, a renewable one, to our citizens should by no means be understood as an attempt to damage or block others access to the water.”

The spokesperson further stressed that Ethiopia has consistently advocated for a “win-win solution,” assuring downstream countries that the dam is not designed to diminish their water flow.

“We have time and again assured our neighbors that this dam is not built to cause harm, is not built to diminish the flow of water to low-riparian countries, but it’s a dam that will change the current shortage of power in Ethiopia based on a win-win approach.”

This approach will continue until the low-riparian countries come to their senses and really appreciate this position and be able to work together on even further projects that will be utilized for the benefit of the people of all the Nile basin countries, the spokesperson told local news agency ENA.

Nebiat further pointed out the regional benefits, noting that the GERD’s power will be distributed through the African Power Interconnection Project, reaching countries in the southern part of Africa.

“Immediate beneficiaries could be our immediate neighbors, but through the African Power Interconnection Project, it will be of use to countries which are even further down in the southern part of Africa. Ethiopia has already conducted bilateral agreements to sell power to these countries, which is easily a cause for working together, a cause for integration.”

There has been a series of negotiations, a series of discussions with these countries, despite the diplomatic hurdles, including opposition, mainly from the downstream countries, the spokesperson revealed.

“But Ethiopia still remains steadfast to solve those problems with negotiation and discussion.”

The GERD, nearing completion, is entirely financed by Ethiopians and stands as “an emblem of Ethiopia’s resilience and solidarity of its people.”