Ethiopia is set to inaugurate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam along the Blue Nile today. It is expected to produce more than 5000 MW of electricity, doubling Ethiopia’s current output, part of which will be exported to neighbour countries. The dam, whose construction began in 2011, has raised concerns from neighbouring Egypt and Sudan over the potential reduction of water levels downstream. 

Despite the formation of a joint panel to discuss the sharing of the Blue Nile water, tensions remain high, and some, like Egypt, have termed the move a security risk, saying it could lead to drought downstream. Ethiopia insists the dam will benefit its over 100 million people and also its neighbours.