Africa-Press – Ethiopia. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is widely regarded as indispensable for advancing regional economic integration in East Africa while also standing as a powerful symbol of African self-reliance, according to citizens from various countries.
Ethiopia has inaugurated GERD last Tuesday. The inauguration ceremony, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, drew high-profile leaders from across Africa and the Caribbean, underscoring the dam’s regional and global significance.
The GERD, which boasts a generation capacity of over 5,000 megawatts, has garnered widespread international media attention. Unlike many large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, the dam was financed entirely by Ethiopians, without foreign loans, grants, or donor support, making it a landmark of self-reliance and national determination.
This project is seen as a model for how African nations can collaborate to harness their natural resources for mutual benefit, potentially ushering in a new era of energy cooperation and economic interdependence across the region.
The sentiment of pride was echoed by leaders and citizens across the continent.
Zam Zam, a flight supervisor at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, described the GERD as a source of continental pride.
“This was purely funded by the Ethiopian government and people. No partners, no donors, no grants from the outside world. It’s fully functional and ready to help other African states. This is a great pride for Africa,” she told the Ethiopian News Agency.
Michael Okumu, Deputy Director for Climate Change at Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, emphasized the dam’s role in showcasing Africa’s capacity to execute transformative projects independently.
“Africa needs to focus on what it can do for itself, not what others can do for it. Ethiopia’s decision to build such a magnificent dam using its own resources is a bold and inspiring move. It will serve multiple sectors and strengthen communities across the region,” Okumu said.
He also highlighted the dam’s contribution to regional energy integration and climate resilience:
“One key to closer integration is energy independence. The GERD enhances the Eastern Africa Power Pool, enabling stronger ties between Ethiopia and neighboring countries. It will meet industrial demands and promote clean energy across the region.”
The GERD is expected to play a pivotal role in promoting regional cooperation and environmental sustainability. As a source of hydroelectric power, the dam will generate clean energy for domestic use and export to neighboring East African nations.
“This is a very big deal for Africa,” Zam Zam added. “We should all learn from Ethiopia. It will give us more electricity, and some of it will be exported to neighboring countries. It’s a billion-dollar project that could benefit us all.”
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