Ethiopia's Controversial GERD Dam 'Potential Boon for All'

With 90% of the Grand Ethiopian Reservoir Dam completed, Sudan has now turned into a supporter. Though Egypt is critical of the project, experts have ruled out war and point to potential benefits for the whole region, writes Jennifer Holleis for Deutsche Welle.

Ethiopia's government expects it will generate up to 6,500 megawatts of electricity, doubling the annual national electricity output. This will enable 60% of the population not yet connected to the grid to access to reliable power.

Egypt and Sudan expressed worries that the dam could lead to reduced water flow in the Nile River, causing increased water scarcity, a major issue in a region that suffers acutely from droughts and the negative effects of climate change. Researchers propose political and scientific solutions, such as data-sharing agreements and joint operations of the GERD and Egypt's Aswan High Dam, to manage water flows and promote cooperation among the countries involved.

The GERD has been dogged by controversy ever since construction started on the U.S.$4 billion mega project in 2011.