The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is being celebrated as a transformative achievement for Ethiopia, Africa, and the Global South, according to a recent analysis by U.S. expert Lawrence Freeman.
Drawing from an interview with ENA, Freeman's article underscores the dam's role in advancing regional economic integration and development. With a 5,150-megawatt capacity, the GERD is noted as the largest new energy project on the continent, solidifying Ethiopia's position as a leading power producer in sub-Saharan Africa.
The dam's impact is already being felt across the region, with electricity being supplied to neighboring countries like Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan, and a planned extension to Tanzania. This initiative, Freeman argues, serves as a powerful example for other African nations to follow. He emphasizes that the GERD is not merely an infrastructure project but a strategic effort to improve citizens' quality of life, boost manufacturing and agricultural sectors, and reduce poverty.
Freeman encourages a deeper understanding of the dam's significance, urging observers to see it as a symbol of African self-reliance and progress.