GERD

Done By Biruk Yacob

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• TO MY ADVISOR & MENTOR MR. ASRAT

• TO THE ESTEEMED GUESTS WHO HAVE COME TO

ATTEND MY PRESENTATION,

• TO ALL THE MAARIF SCHOOLS(SEBETA) STAFF

FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO PRESENT ON THIS
TOPIC
 SOURCES
• BBC News
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)
• United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)
• International Crisis Group(ICG)
• Al Jazeera English
• Nature Middle East Journal
• Africanews
KEY POINTS
• HISTORICAL BACKGROUNG
• ENGINEERING FEATURES
• BENEFITS
• SETBACKS
• PICTURES
• CONCLUSION
HISTORICAL BACKGROUNG
• The history of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)
began in the 1960s, when Ethiopia's government began exploring
the potential of the Blue Nile River as a source of water and
energy. This included several attempts at building a dam in the
1970s and 1980s, but they were all derailed by various factors
such as political instability and economic difficulties. Finally,
construction began in 2011.
• It is currently under construction on the Blue Nile River, the main
tributary of the Nile River. The dam will be the 7th largest dam in
the world by capacity and the largest man-made dam in Africa.
• If completed, it will generate over 6,000 megawatts of
electricity, making Ethiopia one of the continent's leading
producers of low-cost, clean electricity.
ENGINEERING FEATURES
• The dam's main structure is made up of a concrete gravity dam, a
central spillway, and an underground intake.
• The dam is 145 meters tall and 1,800 meters long, with a volume of
4.4 million cubic meters of concrete.
• The reservoir behind the dam will be able to hold 74 billion cubic
meters of water, making it one of the largest reservoirs in the world.
• The dam's main spillway will be able to discharge over 7,000 cubic
meters of water per second.
• With about 13 turbines, it will generate over 6,000 megawatts of
electricity.
BENEFITS
• Once operational, the dam will have an installed capacity of 6,450 megawatts,
providing a significant boost to Ethiopia's current electricity production.
• The increased power generation will support industrialization, urbanization,
and rural electrification, thereby contributing to the country's socio-economic
development.
• The surplus electricity may also be exported to neighboring countries,
fostering regional energy cooperation.
• The dam will also help to mitigate droughts and improve agriculture by
providing more reliable water supplies for irrigation.
• Moreover, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently announced his
plans for building recreational islands on the huge artificial lake.
SETBACKS
• The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is one of the largest
infrastructure projects in Africa, with an estimated cost of over $4.6
billion. Despite being fully funded by the Ethiopian government, the
project faced some funding challenges, including delays in securing
funds from international donors.
• The dam has also been a source of political tension between Ethiopia
and its neighboring countries, particularly over water rights and the
impacts the dam could have on local communities. Egypt and Sudan
have voiced their concerns over the dam's potential impact on their
water supplies, while Ethiopia has pushed for the completion of the dam
as a source of clean, affordable energy.
• These concerns have led to disputes with neighboring countries,
particularly Egypt, which relies heavily on the Nile River for its water
supplies.
CONCLUSION
• Being fully funded by the people, the ownership of the dam and
its resources is to the people of Ethiopia regardless of their
backgroung, ethnicity, wealth, religion or power.
• The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a true marvel of
engineering, a testament to the ingenuity and determination of
the Ethiopian people. With its many benefits and challenges, it
presents an opportunity for cooperation, collaboration, and
sustainable development in the region. As construction
continues, we can expect to see the dam making a positive
impact on the lives of millions of people, providing clean,
affordable electricity for generations to come.
ANY QUESTIONS?
 GERD
THANK YOU!
Done By Biruk Yacob