Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia September 26, 2019. Picture taken September 26, 2019. Tiksa Negeri/Reuters.

Ethiopia is set to officially inaugurate and commission the massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) tomorrow on September 9, 2025, according to the country’s envoy to Kenya.

The Deputy Head of Mission and Ambassador to Kenya, Demeke Atnafu, told a Kenyan media outlet on Sunday that the move is expected to reshape the nation’s economy and the region’s energy landscape.

He added that the inauguration marks a definitive end to colonial-era water agreements on the Nile.

The announcement, detailed in a briefing from the Ethiopian Embassy, frames the $5.15 billion project as a matter of sovereign right and a crucial tool for national development.

The dam, the largest on the African continent and largely funded by public contributions from Ethiopians, is designed to generate 5,150 megawatts of electricity. This power will support a growing population and provide a surplus for export.

Ambassador Demeke emphasized that the GERD symbolizes Ethiopia’s aspirations for economic development and regional integration.

He stated that the dam will directly combat poverty by providing reliable electricity to rural communities, boosting industries, and creating a surplus for export.

The commissioning will occur just days before Addis Ababa hosts the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS-2) from September 8-10, giving Ethiopia a chance to showcase the dam as a flagship African-led climate solution.

The summit, co-hosted by the African Union, will focus on financing for resilient development—a theme that Ethiopia is advancing through its own Green Legacy Initiative.