| World news Ethiopia
Ethiopia inaugurates Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa’s largest hydropower project
Ethiopia has officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a hydroelectric project on the Blue Nile that is set to more than double the country’s electricity supply. The dam, located in the Benishangul-Gumuz region about 700km northwest of the capital Addis Ababa and near the Sudanese border, is the largest in Africa. It measures 1,800m in length and 170m in height, creating a reservoir known as Nigat Lake that holds about 74 billion cubic meters of water. The dam was built by Webuild.
Construction began in 2011 and was largely financed domestically through bonds and public contributions after Ethiopia failed to secure international funding. The facility has a total installed capacity of 5,150MW, generated through 13 turbines across two power stations, with an expected annual output of about 15,700 gigawatt hours. According to Webuild, this is “an installed production capacity … equivalent to three medium-sized nuclear power plants.” The official inauguration ceremony was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Pietro Salini, Chief Executive of Webuild, and leaders of other African nations. Webuild described the GERD as “one of the world’s most ambitious and advanced infrastructure projects in recent years.” The main dam, constructed with roller-compacted concrete, is
the largest of its kind in Africa, with a volume of 10.7 million cubic meters of concrete. In December 2014, the site set a world record by laying 23,000 cubic meters of concrete in 24 hours. Webuild emphasised the project’s local impact, noting that “a new town has emerged around the site, complete with a hospital,
two equipped medical clinics, a school, sports facilities, a bakery producing injera … and road infrastructure that will remain as a legacy.” More than 25,000 people, mostly Ethiopians, worked on the dam’s construction.
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has also been a source of
tension with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan, which rely heavily on Nile waters. Ethiopia has argued the project is essential for its development and electricity needs, while Egypt in particular has raised concerns about water security. Despite more than a decade of negotiations, no binding agreement has been reached on how the dam should be managed.
Partial operations began in 2022, with the staged filling of the
reservoir completed in 2024. Officials say the dam will expand power access for Ethiopia’s population of more than 120 million people, roughly half of whom currently lack reliable electricity, and help the country become an energy exporter in East Africa. Webuild said the GERD reflects “a long-term vision and serves
as a tool for national growth,” while also fitting into Italy’s broader efforts to support African infrastructure through the Mattei Plan. The company has been active in Ethiopia for over 70 years, completing 30 projects, including the Beles Multipurpose Project, the Gibe III dam, and currently the Koysha dam. Globally, Webuild has built 318 dams and hydroelectric plants with a total capacity of 53,659 MW, and is working on additional projects that it says will help avoid 13 million tons of CO emissions annually. “With GERD, Webuild reaffirms its global leadership and its ability to deliver large-scale, complex, and sustainable infrastructure,” the company said.
Malyasia/UK/Nepal Bakun, Coire Glas and Mai Beni win top hydropower sustainability award Three hydropower projects from Malaysia, the UK and Nepal have received the IHA Blue Planet Prize 2025, the most prestigious award in the industry for sustainability performance. The winners were announced in Paris at the
International Forum on Pumped Storage. The awards went to the Bakun Hydroelectric
Project in Malaysia, which took the main prize; the Coire Glas Hydropower Project in Scotland, UK, recognised in the pumped storage category; and the Mai Beni Hydropower Project in Nepal, recognised in the small hydropower category. The IHA Blue Planet Prize is awarded
to projects that meet the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, which requires evidence of good practice across all topics and a process of public consultation. Commissioned in 2014 and acquired by Sarawak Energy in 2017, the 2,400MW Bakun project has undergone improvements in environmental and social practices. A 2024 assessment highlighted areas for strengthening, including community engagement, water
quality and dam safety. Sarawak Energy introduced action plans to address these issues, leading to Silver certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard in 2025. Eddie Rich, CEO of the International
Hydropower Association (IHA), said: “Bakun shows what can be achieved when a project commits to continuous improvement as a long-term vision. By embedding sustainability practices throughout its operations and closing gaps identified through the assessment process, Sarawak Energy has demonstrated that hydropower can deliver positive outcomes for communities and the environment. This award is richly deserved.” The Premier of Sarawak, YAB Datuk Patinggi
Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, said: “The recognition of the Bakun Hydroelectric Project with the IHA Blue Planet Prize is a proud moment for Sarawak and Malaysia. It reflects our commitment to balancing development with sustainability and to ensuring that hydropower brings lasting benefits to our people, our environment and our economy. “This award is a testament to the dedication of Sarawak Energy and our wider community in embedding international best practice into
the heart of one of the region’s most important renewable energy assets.” The proposed 1,500MW Coire Glas project on Loch Lochy in the Scottish Highlands, being developed by SSE Renewables, would be the UK’s largest long-duration energy storage facility if approved. In August 2025, it became the first pumped storage project worldwide to achieve Gold certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. Eddie Rich said: “Coire Glas shows what can be achieved when a project is planned and managed over time with a focus on doing things the right way. SSE has taken care to embed sustainability into the project from the very earliest stages, consulting thoroughly and planning for environmental and social impacts. This award recognises the leadership and dedication needed to deliver pumped storage responsibly and ensure it plays a fundamental role in the clean and secure energy transition.” Mike Seaton, Coire Glas Project Director, said: “We’re extremely proud our Coire Glas project has been awarded the IHA Blue Planet Prize 2025 for pumped storage. Our entire project team and contractors have dedicated themselves to building sustainability into every stage of the planning for this world-class
www.waterpowermagazine.com | October 2025 | 5
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