Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD ) formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam, is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia currently under construction. It is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, about 40 km east of the border with Sudan. At 6,000 MW, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as well as the 8th largest in the world. The reservoir at 72 billion cubic meters will be one of the continent's largest. According to the Ethiopian government, as of June 2017, the Dam is 60% complete.

àmajor benefit of the dam will be hydropower production. The electricity to be produced by the hydropower plant is to be sold in Ethiopia and to neighboring countries including Sudan and possibly Egypt. Selling the electricity from the dam would require the construction of massive transmission lines to major consumption centers such as Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa and Sudan's capital Khartoum, both located more than 400 km away from the dam.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam(GERD ) formerly known as theMillennium Dam and sometimes referredto as Hidase Dam, is a gravity dam onthe Blue Nile River in Ethiopiacurrently under construction. It isin the Benishangul-Gumuz Region ofEthiopia, about 40 km east of theborder with Sudan. At 6,000 MW, thedam will be the largest hydroelectricpower plant in Africa when completed,as well as the 8th largest in theworld. The reservoir at 72 billioncubic meters will be one of thecontinent's largest. According to theEthiopian government, as of June2017, the Dam is 60% complete.

• Environmental Risks: Not Reported Social Risks: Not Reported Socio-Enviro Classification: Not Reported Other External Risks: Not Reported