April 3, 2015 - Just a few days after the agreement signed by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam under construction, yesterday 2nd April the  fourth anniversary of this flagship project was celebrated in the region of Benishangul - Gumaz along the Blue Nile in Ethiopia. The traditional celebrations of the 2nd April commemorate the inauguration ceremony of 2011 held in the presence of the Prime Minister at the time Meles Zenawi.

The deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy as well as other government representatives and ETHIOPIAN ELECTRIC POWER CEO Azeb Asnake were present.

The programme inclued a visit to site followed by a ceremony and celebrations in the dam construction area.

The project has now reached 40% completion.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will be the largest dam in Africa: 1,800 m long, 170 m high and with an overall volume of 10.2 million m³.

The project involves the construction of a main dam in Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) on the Blue Nile, 1,800 m long, 155 m high and with an overall volume of 10.2 million m³; two hydroelectric power plants located on the two banks of the river – the one on the right bank with 10 Francis turbines (each with a 375MW capacity), the one on the left bank with 6 turbines – with a total installed capacity of 6000 MW and an expected output of 15,000 GWh/year; a concrete surface spillway with a capacity of 15,000 m³/s, a 5 km long saddle dam built in rockfill with an overall volume of 17 million m³; and a 500-kV substation and ancillary works.