Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, or GERD, represents one of the cornerstones of Ethiopia’s national energy strategy. The project, commissioned by Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), is a complex infrastructural system that, by harnessing the waters of the Blue Nile, achieves an installed capacity of 5,150 MW, equivalent to three medium-sized nuclear power plants.

The plant was designed to double national energy production and generate a surplus for export to neighboring countries, including Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti, and Tanzania.

Beyond its technical significance, GERD also holds strong strategic and institutional value: the construction was entirely funded by domestic resources and a government bond program and it is a global-scale infrastructure that consolidates Ethiopia’s energy autonomy and its ability to position itself as a regional energy hub.

GERD: a plant capable of doubling national energy production

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a globally significant engineering project and a strategic infrastructure for Ethiopia’s energy independence.

The project is located approximately 700 km north-west of the capital Addis Ababa, about 14 km from the border between Ethiopia and Sudan, in the Benishangul-Gumaz region along the Blue Nile. 

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is the largest hydropower project in Africa: 1,800 m long, 170 m high and with a total RCC volume of 10.7 million m³. The reservoir has a surface area of 1,875 km2 and a volume of 74 billion m³.

The project involved the construction of a 170 m high main gravity dam in rolled compacted concrete (RCC), with two hydroelectric power stations installed at the base of the dam, and a secondary dam in loose materials (rockfill) with a concrete facing 5 km long. The hydroelectric power stations are located on the right and left banks of the river and consist of 13 Francis turbines, with a total installed capacity of 5,150 MW and an average production of 15,700 GWh/year. 

The project has created a reservoir that collects rainwater and river water and channels it to the main dam; the average annual outflow is estimated at around 50 billion m³ of water.

GERD is a large-scale project, for which innovative ad hoc solutions have been developed. A unique element is the mixture of rolled compacted concrete used: advanced research on mixtures, involving world-class experts, has made it possible to significantly increase the setting time of the concrete, with considerable benefits in terms of production and material quality.

Client: Ethiopian Electric Power

GERD: innovations and technical complexities

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam integrates cutting-edge engineering and technological solutions to ensure performance, safety, and durability over time.

One of the main challenges of the project was a diversion system to shift the Blue Nile river course from one bank to the other as needed. The management of the river, characterized during the rainy season by flows that can reach an average of 8,000 m3/s, was ensured through temporary diversion and redirection structures, with controlled release of turbined waters downstream. In addition to the dams, a spillway was constructed, an overflow structure that can be opened when lake levels exceed projections, allowing water to flow downstream without passing over the central part of the dam.

High-Performance Materials 

The Main Dam was built placing roller-compacted concrete (RCC), a particular mix of oncrete with low cement and water content, very dry. Research conducted in internal laboratories, in collaboration with international experts, led to the creation of this mix characterized by extended setting times and superior mechanical performance. This solution improved workability and structural quality increasing long-term durability. 

Integrated Structural Monitoring 

An advanced monitoring system was installed within the dam, set up in the network of galleries of the Main Dam. The system detects key parameters in real-time, including: Hydrostatic pressure and reservoir levels; Integrity of the concrete block joints; Millimetric structural shifts; Turbine and mechanical component performance.

Monitoring is carried out through a network of sensors and precision instruments, including high-sensitivity pendula extending from the crest to the base of the dam. These devices measure and record every variation in the structural conditions, ensuring a constant view of operational conditions. All acquired data feeds into a centralized database hosted in the control center located at the base of the dam on the right bank. Here, the data is analyzed in real-time to support predictive maintenance activities and ensure maximum operational reliability. 

GERD: benefits for the territory

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project has generated significant occupational and social impact, confirming its strategic value not only from an energy perspective but also for the development of local communities. The plant also ensures a reduction of 1.3 million tons per year of CO2 emissions for the national power grid. 

Over the years, the construction site hosted a total of 25,000 workers, with peaks of 10,000 people at a time. More than 95% of these were from Ethiopia, largely from nearby communities. 

To support the workforce and operational needs, a complex logistical system was created, including: an extensive internal road network within the site, including the construction of two bridges over the Blue Nile, and a landing strip for rapid connections with Addis Ababa; three housing camps built to house 10,000 people, equipped with three medical centres and all the necessary services such as schools, canteens, recreational areas, a club, a swimming pool, and sports fields.

A comprehensive healthcare system was set up within the site, including a central hospital (20 beds, six ambulances, 71 healthcare workers) and two satellite clinics, operating 24/7. The facilities provided medical care, prevention, and vaccination campaigns, collaborating with local health authorities (over 4,200 vaccinations and more than 700,000 medical services provided throughout the entire project). The centers offered free services to both workers and residents of surrounding areas. The healthcare infrastructure was transferred to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, ensuring service continuity and representing a tangible legacy for the community.

The Injera Factory

In addition to the three canteens set up within the site, the Webuild Group established and managed a factory for producing injera, Ethiopia’s traditional food, which appears as a large, light gray crepe made from teff flour. The factory, employing 84 people, produced an average of over 6,500 injera per day, with peaks exceeding 10,000, to meet the workers’ demand. Up to 3 million injera were produced annually.