Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that Ethiopia will begin filling the reservoir of its dam on the Blue Nile, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), in the upcoming rainy season. PM Abiy made the remark on the event of the 9-year anniversary of the launching of the GERD project.

"We will start filling the dam in the next rainy season," the Prime Minister declared, further noting that Ethiopians "have shown their capacity" by financing the project with their own resources. PM Abiy also pointed out that the GERD stands as a symbol of sovereignty and unity for Ethiopians.

Set to be the largest hydropower project in Africa, the GERD is now 72.4 percent complete and "work on the project is well underway," according to Seleshi Bekele (Ph.D.), Ethiopia's Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy.

Source: FBC