The largest dam in Africa has been officially inaugurated in Ethiopia, marking a turning point for regional energy security, hydropower development and African climate resilience.
The largest dam in Africa inaugurated during the African Climate Summit
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, widely known as the Millennium Dam, was officially inaugurated in Addis Ababa during the Second African Climate Summit. Built on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, the largest dam in Africa represents a global benchmark in scale and generating capacity.
With an installed capacity of 5,150 MW and an estimated average annual output of 15,700 GWh, the dam is set to double Ethiopia’s national electricity supply and strengthen the country’s position as a regional energy hub in East Africa. The reservoir can hold up to 74 billion cubic metres of water and feeds 13 Francis turbines installed across two hydroelectric power stations.
A decade-long dispute over Nile waters
Construction of the dam began in 2011 and quickly became a source of tension with downstream countries, particularly Egypt and Sudan, both concerned about water security and flow management along the Nile. Although a cooperation agreement was signed in 2015, negotiations have frequently stalled.
Ethiopia nonetheless started filling the reservoir in 2020, arguing that expanding electricity access for millions of citizens without power was a national priority. Despite international mediation efforts, including initiatives supported by the United States and the African Union, the dispute remains unresolved, making the largest dam in Africa a central issue in regional diplomacy.
Record-breaking dimensions and innovative technologies
The largest dam in Africa stretches 1,800 metres in length and rises 170 metres high. It was built using 10.7 million cubic metres of roller-compacted concrete, achieving a world record in 2014 with 23,000 cubic metres poured in a single day.
Alongside the main structure, the project includes a 5-kilometre rockfill saddle dam, a spillway system for water regulation, and an advanced integrated monitoring network. High-precision sensors and internal pendulums continuously track hydrostatic pressure, joint integrity and millimetric movements, enabling real-time safety checks and predictive maintenance.
A project that transformed an Ethiopian region
More than 25,000 workers, mostly from local communities, were involved in the construction process, supporting large-scale skills transfer and workforce development. Hospitals, schools, sports facilities and new road infrastructure were built around the site, reshaping the Benishangul-Gumuz region.
Beyond its engineering significance, the largest dam in Africa has acted as a catalyst for social and economic development. Fully financed through domestic resources and government bonds, the project has become a symbol of national independence and pride. Ethiopia now plans to export part of the electricity generated to Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, contributing to regional power integration across eastern and sub-Saharan Africa.
Webuild and the Italian contribution to Ethiopian hydropower
The dam was commissioned by Ethiopian Electric Power and built by Webuild, an Italian engineering group with a long-standing presence in Ethiopia’s hydropower sector.
Webuild has completed 30 major infrastructure projects in the country, including the Gibe III dam and the Beles Multipurpose Project, and is currently working on the Koysha hydropower scheme. The inauguration of the largest dam in Africa is also linked to Italy’s Mattei Plan, which aims to strengthen energy cooperation and sustainable development partnerships with African countries.
