Ethiopia Announces Construction of Three New Dams on Blue Nile

 The New Arab published on 24 March 2026 an article titled "Egyptian Outrage as Ethiopia Announces Plans for More Dams on Blue Nile" by Saleh Salem.  

Ethiopia has announced plans to construct 3 new dams on the Blue Nile, the location of the recently completed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).  The 3 dams will be constructed within 4 to 7 years and will be able to start operating simultaneously.  Costing $3.5 billion each, the 3 dams will increase Ethiopia's electricity generation by 20 to 25 percent.

Egypt has reacted harshly to the announcement, arguing that the dams will further increase water shortages downstream when they begin operating as is the case with the GERD.  

Comment: It is true that the GERD and the 3 new dams hold back water from downstream Sudan and Egypt during the period when Ethiopia is filling the reservoir behind the dams.  But once the reservoir is full as in the case of the GERD today, Blue Nile River water flows normally. The only serious concern for downstream Sudan and Egypt occurs if there are several years of drought in the Nile Basin, reducing the water flow for all three countries, including the amount of water in the reservoirs of the dams that produce hydropower for Ethiopia.   

Inauguration of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

 IntelliNews published on 7 September 2025 an article titled "Ethiopia Set to Inaugurate $4bn Mega-Dam as Egypt, Sudan Renew Strong Objections" by Brian Kenety.

Ethiopia is inaugurating on 9 September the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the largest hydro dam in Africa.  Downstream Sudan and Egypt continue to oppose construction of the dam, arguing it undermines their historic rights to Nile water flows guaranteed under colonial-era treaties to which Ethiopia was not a party.  

Nile Water Security and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

 The Jurist published on 1 February 2023 an analysis titled "Egyptian Water Security and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Why Ethiopia Has the Upper Hand" by Elliot Winter, New Castle University. 

This article considers water security in the context of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).  It provides a brief history of the GERD; outlines the role of the Watercourses Convention, which neither Ethiopia nor Egypt has signed; explains the significance of the Nile Waters Treaties; sets out the main legal arguments for Egypt; and provides the main legal arguments for Ethiopia.  It concludes that Ethiopia's legal position is far stronger and that a negotiated agreement in its favor is the most likely outcome of the dispute.  

Visit to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

 Lawrence Freeman posted on 16 January 2023 a report titled "GERD: Utilizing the Blue Nile to Create Energy for Development in Ethiopia & The Horn of Africa."

The author toured the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on 19 December 2022 and posted on his blog a useful update of the construction process, including statistics on current generation of electricity.  

Ethiopia's Hydropower Projects

The Institute for Defense Analyses published on 24 March 2016 an article titled "Ethiopia Moves Forward on Hydropower Dams" by George F. Ward. 

This piece discusses the Gilgel Gibe III Dam on the Omo River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River.

Ethiopia and Egypt: Nile Water Issues

Foreign Policy published on 6 March 2014 an article titled "Troubled Waters: Egypt and Ethiopia Are at Loggerheads over a Plan to Dam the Nile River" by Keith Johnson.  You may have to register with Foreign Policy to access the article.