• Ethiopia's PM announces completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
• The dam has raised regional tensions with Egypt and Sudan over water supply concerns.
• Egypt views the dam as an existential threat to its water resources.
• Ethiopia insists on the dam's benefits for shared regional progress.
• The dam is expected to produce over 6,000 megawatts of electricity.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared on Thursday that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile is now complete, with an official inauguration planned for September. The project, which has consumed a budget of $4 billion and taken over a decade to build, is touted as Africa’s largest hydroelectric facility, stretching 1.8 kilometers and standing 145 meters tall. Ethiopia views the dam as essential for its electrification efforts and economic growth, stating that it will generate significant energy not just for itself but for the surrounding region, according to trtglobal, aljazeera, and latimes.

However, the GERD has caused considerable apprehension in Egypt and Sudan, both of which express concerns that the dam threatens their water supply from the Nile. Egypt, which relies on the Nile for roughly 97 percent of its water needs, labels the dam an existential threat, fearing it could lead to a significant reduction in water availability, a sentiment echoed by Sudan as well. While negotiations between the countries have continuously faltered, Abiy emphasizes that Ethiopia is committed to not allowing its development to disadvantage its neighbors. "We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water," he said, stating that prosperity should benefit all involved, as reported by africanews and trtglobal.