Renewable Energy & Access
Ethiopia Inaugurates $5B GERD Dam
The GERD inauguration has heightened tensions with Egypt and Sudan, who fear threats to Nile water security. Cairo calls the project an “existential risk” during drought periods. The African Union has urged all three countries to return to talks under the Khartoum Declaration.
Ethiopia launches Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, the $5B GERD, boosting energy independence but sparking Nile tensions.’
Ethiopia Opens $5B Grand Renaissance Dam
Africa’s largest hydropower project aims to boost energy supply but fuels Nile tensions with Egypt and Sudan
Ethiopia has officially opened the $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The project is now the largest hydroelectric plant in Africa. It positions the country as a regional power hub, even as disputes with Egypt and Sudan continue.
Launch ceremony in Guba
The inauguration took place in Guba on the eve of Ethiopia’s 2018 new year. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led the event, calling the GERD a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s growth.
Abiy said the dam would both supply power at home and create electricity exports across East Africa.
“To our Sudanese and Egyptian brothers: Ethiopia built the dam to prosper, to electrify the entire region and to change the history of black people. It is absolutely not to harm its brothers,” he said.
Scale of the project
The GERD has an installed capacity of 5,150 megawatts. That makes it one of the 20 largest hydro dams in the world. For comparison, it is about one-quarter the size of China’s Three Gorges Dam.
Two turbines are already generating 750 MW. The dam’s reservoir has submerged an area larger than Greater London. Officials say it will regulate floods and support irrigation.
Powering Ethiopia’s future
As recently as 2022, nearly half of Ethiopia’s 120 million citizens lacked electricity. The GERD is set to close much of that gap and boost regional trade in power.
Financing has also been a matter of pride. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia provided 91% of the cost, with the rest raised through bonds, donations, and voluntary contributions. Unlike other mega-projects, the dam was funded almost entirely from domestic resources.
Rising Nile tensions
Still, the GERD has sharpened tensions along the Nile.On December 4 2024, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni hosted Egyptian officials in Kampala, launching Uganda’s diplomatic push to revise the Nile Basin Initiative.
Egypt, which relies on the river for 90% of its freshwater, fears the dam will reduce its supply during droughts. Cairo has taken its case to the United Nations Security Council and described the project as an “existential threat.”
“Egypt reserves the right to take all the appropriate measures to defend and protect the interests of the Egyptian people,” its Foreign Ministry warned.
Sudan has also expressed concern. Officials argue that Ethiopia’s unilateral control could endanger the Roseires Dam downstream if water is released without coordination.
AU pushes for dialogue
The African Union has urged Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan to restart talks.
AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat called for dialogue under the 2015 Khartoum Declaration of Principles. He said the GERD should be seen as part of Africa’s wider drive for renewable energy under Agenda 2063.
Faki pointed to the joint management of the Senegal River by Senegal, Mali, and Mauritania as a model for cooperation.
A new chapter for Ethiopia
Analysts say Ethiopia has proved the dam can operate without major disruption, but tough questions on drought rules remain unresolved.
For now, the GERD is both a symbol of Ethiopia’s energy independence and the center of a regional water dispute that has lasted more than a decade.
Renewable Energy & Access
Kenya Court Halts $2B Lamu Coal Project
The 1,050MW Lamu coal plant faced a decade of opposition from environmental groups and UNESCO advocates. The verdict now strengthens Kenya’s clean energy transition.
Kenya’s High Court halts a $2 billion Lamu coal plant near a UNESCO site, citing environmental and heritage violations.
NAIROBI, Oct. 17 — Kenya’s High Court has blocked construction of the proposed $2 billion Lamu coal plant, citing serious environmental and social concerns. The ruling delivered virtually from Malindi by Justice Francis Mwangi Njoroge on October 16, 2025, is a major victory for activists and local residents who have fought the project for years.
The 1,050-megawatt facility, planned for Kenya’s historic Lamu County, where al-Shabaab militants are threatening a $ 25 billion Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia -Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project,was to be the country’s first coal-powered station. However, the court found that the developers failed to conduct proper public participation and environmental assessments before securing government approvals.
“The approval process lacked meaningful engagement with affected communities,” Justice Njoroge said. “The constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment must take precedence over economic ambition.”
A Decade of Controversy
The project was led by Amu Power Company Ltd, a consortium majority-owned by Centum Investment Co. Plc — one of Kenya’s largest investment firms. Other key partners included Gulf Energy Ltd and China Power Global, which was expected to handle engineering and construction under the $2 billion deal.
Since its inception in 2015, the Lamu coal plant has faced intense opposition. Local fishermen, conservationists, and global environmental organizations such as Greenpeace Africa and Natural Justice warned that the plant would damage marine ecosystems and pollute air quality. The site lies close to Lamu Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — which risked losing its protected status if construction went ahead.
In 2019, the National Environment Tribunal (NET) suspended the plant’s environmental license, ruling that the environmental review had been flawed. Amu Power appealed the decision, but the project stalled as government policy began shifting toward cleaner energy sources.
Kenya’s Energy Shift
Kenya’s energy mix has changed dramatically over the past decade. As of 2024, Kenya Power reports that 86% of electricity comes from renewable sources such as geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar.
The Lamu coal project was originally conceived to provide cheap, reliable energy for industrial users. Yet falling renewable costs and international climate pressure have made coal both economically and politically unviable.
“Coal no longer fits Kenya’s green growth agenda,” said Joseph Njoroge, former Principal Secretary for Energy. “The economics simply don’t add up, and the environmental cost is too high.”
In 2022, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to 100% clean energy by 2030, aligning with the Paris Agreement and national Vision 2030 goals.
Impact on Investors and Communities
The court’s ruling carries deep implications for both investors and local livelihoods. Centum’s subsidiary, Amu Power, had already invested around KSh 3.2 billion ($21 million) in feasibility studies, design work, and land acquisition.
A company spokesperson said Amu Power was “reviewing the judgment and considering its legal options.”
For Lamu residents, however, the decision was cause for celebration.
“This is not just a win for Lamu—it’s a win for all Kenyans who believe development must respect people and planet,” said Omar Elmawi, coordinator of the DeCOALonize Coalition, which led local resistance efforts.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, welcomed the verdict, urging the government to compensate families affected by earlier land acquisitions. They also called for the redirection of public investment toward renewable infrastructure in coastal Kenya.
A Turning Point for Green Governance
Experts believe the Kenya court ruling could reshape how African countries balance industrialization with environmental responsibility.
“Kenya’s courts are increasingly defining the country’s sustainable development trajectory,” said Dr. Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute. “This judgment shows that rule of law and green growth can advance together.”
The High Court decision effectively voids the Lamu plant’s environmental license. Any attempt to revive the project would require a fresh environmental review and new public consultations — a process expected to take years.
For now, the ruling positions Kenya as a continental leader in renewable energy governance. It also signals to international investors that environmental accountability is no longer optional in Africa’s infrastructure landscape.
Renewable Energy & Access
Ethiopia Signs Nuclear Energy Agreement with Russia to Develop Power Plant
If completed, Ethiopia will become the second sub-Saharan African nation with nuclear power. Experts say the Ethiopia-Russia deal could serve as a model for Africa’s clean energy transition.
On September 25, Ethiopia signed a nuclear energy deal with Russia in Moscow, aiming to diversify power sources, build local expertise, and boost regional energy security.
Ethiopia Signs Landmark Nuclear Energy Deal with Russia to Diversify Power Sources
Ethiopia took a historic step on September 25, 2025, by signing a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with Russia in Moscow. The deal, formalized during a nuclear energy forum, involves the construction of a nuclear power plant in Ethiopia and represents a major leap in the country’s energy strategy. Ethiopian Electric Power CEO Ashebir Balcha and Rosatom CEO Aleksei Likhachev signed the comprehensive action plan, highlighting the nations’ commitment to collaboration in energy technology and infrastructure.
Strategic Significance for Ethiopia
The agreement outlines a roadmap for building the nuclear facility, covering technical planning, financing, and the creation of a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Ethiopia. The deal also includes training Ethiopian personnel in nuclear operations to develop domestic expertise. For Ethiopia, this project marks a critical step toward diversifying its energy mix beyond hydropower, solar, and wind.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized the importance of the initiative: “Nuclear technology provides reliable, low-emission power, strengthens food security, optimizes water management, and empowers our scientists.” He added that Ethiopia’s rapidly growing economy and population of over 130 million demand a diversified energy portfolio. Current investments, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), are not sufficient to meet future energy needs.
The Deal’s Scope and Capacity Building
Under the agreement, Rosatom will assist Ethiopia in constructing the nuclear power plant while building local technical capacity. Ethiopian engineers and technicians will receive specialized training in nuclear science, safety protocols, and operations. This ensures that the project does not only generate power but also strengthens Ethiopia’s scientific and technological base.
Ashebir Balcha, CEO of Ethiopian Electric Power, said: “This nuclear facility is more than energy generation; it’s about building knowledge, capacity, and innovation for Ethiopia’s future.” The initiative positions Ethiopia to emerge as a regional hub for advanced energy technology.
Regional and Continental Implications
If completed, Ethiopia would become only the second sub-Saharan African country after South Africa to operate a nuclear power plant. This milestone would demonstrate Africa’s capacity to adopt advanced, low-carbon energy solutions and could serve as a blueprint for other nations facing surging energy demand.
For example, this May, neighbouring Kenya signed a $1b renewable energy deal positioning itself as Africa’s green leader.
Energy analysts highlight that Ethiopia’s growing population, urbanization, and industrialization require a resilient energy system. According to the World Bank, electricity demand in Ethiopia is projected to double over the next decade. Nuclear energy, with high reliability and low greenhouse gas emissions, offers a sustainable solution to meet this demand.
The development also has broader geopolitical implications. By partnering with Russia, Ethiopia strengthens strategic ties while signaling its intention to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on a single energy type. The project enhances regional energy security, providing a potential model for neighboring countries in East Africa.
Risks and Challenges
Despite the promise, nuclear energy projects are complex, expensive, and politically sensitive. Ensuring safe operations, adhering to international safety standards, and securing consistent funding are critical for the project’s success. Ethiopia must also manage public perception and regional concerns over nuclear proliferation, while demonstrating transparency and regulatory compliance.
A Vision for Sustainable Energy
The Ethiopia-Russia nuclear partnership represents a forward-looking approach to energy security. Combined with hydropower, solar, and wind, nuclear energy will contribute to a diversified, sustainable power system capable of supporting economic growth, innovation, and social development.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stressed: “The nuclear deal is a strategic investment in our nation’s human capital, technological capacity, and future prosperity.” By integrating nuclear power, Ethiopia sets a precedent for the continent, showing that African nations can safely and effectively adopt advanced energy solutions to meet rising demand.
Explore further: Rosatom | Ethiopian Electric Power | Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam | South Africa Nuclear Program
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