Ethiopia prepares for start-up of Grand Renaissance Dam

Persistent blackouts in Addis Ababa and other urban centres in Africa’s second most populous country are a reminder of its vulnerability to drought. But Ethiopian officials who spoke to African Energy at locations across the country anticipated major improvements to hydropower generation in coming months. A minimum two turbines of the 6GW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) will be operational by end-2016, Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) chief executive Azeb Asnake told African Energy on 26 February.