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Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam inaugurated

By Richard High, 07 October, 2025
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam viewed from below and to the right, inaugurated in September 2025, is the largest roller-compacted concrete gravity dam in Africa. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, inaugurated in September 2025, is the largest roller-compacted concrete gravity dam in Africa.

Ethiopia has inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a project that sets records both for its scale and its use of concrete. Designed and constructed by Italian contractor Webuild, GERD is the largest hydropower development in Africa and the biggest roller-compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam by volume on the continent.

Commissioned by Ethiopian Electric Power, the dam is built across the Blue Nile in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, close to the Sudanese border. Construction began in 2011 and involved more than 25,000 workers, most of them Ethiopian. At its peak, the project set a world record by placing 23,000 m³ of RCC in 24 hours on 28 December 2014.

The completed structure stands 170 metres tall, measures 1,800 metres at the crest, and contains 10.7 million m³ of concrete. Its reservoir extends 172 km and holds up to 74 billion m³ of water. Supported by two 262 m towers, the dam is capable of generating over 5,000 MW of power with an expected annual output of 15,700 GWh, roughly equivalent to three medium-sized nuclear power plants.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam spans the Blue Nile, creating a 172 km reservoir with a storage capacity of 74 billion m³. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam spans the Blue Nile, creating a 172 km reservoir with a storage capacity of 74 billion m³.
The 170-metre-high RCC dam contains over 10.7 million m³ of concrete, making it the largest structure of its kind in Africa. The 170-metre-high RCC dam contains over 10.7 million m³ of concrete, making it the largest structure of its kind in Africa.
The GERD powerhouse is designed to deliver more than 5,000 MW of renewable energy, transforming Ethiopia’s energy sector. The GERD powerhouse is designed to deliver more than 5,000 MW of renewable energy, transforming Ethiopia’s energy sector.

Beyond energy generation, GERD has had a major socio-economic impact. A new town has grown around the site, with facilities including a hospital, two medical clinics, a school, sports grounds, a bakery and new road infrastructure.

Webuild has a long history in Ethiopia, with more than 70 years of work in the hydroelectric sector. Previous projects include the Gibe III dam, once the world’s tallest RCC dam at 250 m, and the Beles multipurpose project. Work is also ongoing on the Koysha dam, set to be Ethiopia’s second largest hydropower scheme after GERD.

The project has been at the centre of international attention not only for its engineering achievements but also for its geopolitical implications. Ethiopia views the dam as vital to national growth and energy independence, while downstream countries Sudan and Egypt have raised concerns about its impact on Nile water flows.

For Webuild, GERD is part of a portfolio of more than 318 dams and hydroelectric plants worldwide, delivering a total capacity of 53,659 MW. The company is currently working on projects expected to add a further 14,000 MW globally.

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