Our Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) was launched in 2011 and when finished, it will be the largest hydro-electric power plant in Africa and the 8th largest in the world by the capacity of its reservoir and will create the 2nd largest reservoir on the Nile.
The GERD is our largest nation building project that will generate energy, provide water for irrigation and control flooding. It is currently 70 percent completed and expected to start operation in 2017. GERD will have the capacity to generate over 6000 mega watts electricity and the nation can earn 1 billion USD a year exporting power. Ethiopia is using its own domestic resources to build the Dam, and it has become a national pride that will benefit the entire nation. Our late Prime Minister MelesZenawi called the GERD "An expression of our commitment to the benefit of all the countries of the Nile Basin".
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