GERD Vital to Regional Integration and Climate Resilience, Says Diplomat

Addis Ababa, October 9, 2026 (ENA) —The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is vital to promoting regional integration and mitigating climate related challenges, including severe flooding and droughts, in downstream countries, Ambassador Zerihun Abebe, Director General for African Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.

In an interview with ENA, Ambassador Zerihun reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to cooperation, regional integration and the equitable utilization of Nile waters, emphasizing the importance of shared benefits among riparian countries.

He said Ethiopia had sought to take the interests of downstream countries into account during the development of the GERD, highlighting the dam’s potential to contribute to regional development, climate resilience and energy security.

According to the director general, the dam represents a major African investment in clean energy and offers opportunities to address shared climate challenges. Its benefits could extend to Sudan and Egypt through electricity generation, water storage and flood mitigation.

The ambassador noted that the GERD reservoir could help reduce water losses associated with storage, as it is located in an area with comparatively lower evaporation rates than the region surrounding Egypt’s High Aswan Dam.

He also highlighted the dam’s potential to mitigate extreme flooding by regulating water flows, helping reduce damage to infrastructure, protect lives and safeguard livelihoods in downstream areas.

On drought management, he said water storage at the GERD could create opportunities for greater cooperation among Nile Basin countries during periods of water scarcity.

The director general further described the dam as a strategic regional asset whose hydropower generation could help meet electricity demand in neighboring countries while supporting the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Expanding access to renewable electricity, he added, could strengthen cross-border energy cooperation and contribute to broader efforts to address climate change.

Ambassador Zerihun stressed that realizing the GERD’s long term benefits would require sustained cooperation among Nile Basin countries, noting that collaboration over shared water resources is essential to advancing regional integration and addressing common environmental and development challenges.