For Ethiopia, the continent’s second-most populous nation with more than 120 million people, the GERD is a symbol of national pride and economic transformation. The government says the dam will power homes, factories, and infrastructure projects, creating new opportunities for development and export of electricity to neighboring states.

But the project has also heightened tensions with Egypt and Sudan, who depend heavily on Nile waters for drinking, farming, and industry. Cairo has long feared that the dam will reduce its share of the river, which supplies more than 90% of Egypt’s freshwater. Sudan, too, has expressed concern about how water flows and dam operations might affect its irrigation systems and existing dams.

Ethiopia has dismissed these fears, arguing that the project will benefit the region by regulating floods and expanding power supply. Officials insist that GERD will not significantly harm downstream countries, pointing instead to its role in stabilizing water flows during drought years.

The dispute also touches on history. By moving forward with GERD, Ethiopia is sidestepping the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, a colonial-era pact that gave Egypt veto power over Nile projects and granted it the lion’s share of water rights. Addis Ababa has long rejected the treaty as outdated and unjust.

Talks between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan have repeatedly stalled, and analysts warn that the absence of a binding agreement could fuel further tensions in an already fragile region.

President Hakainde Hichilema launched the plant on June 30, saying the move would help free up electricity for local households and businesses.

Zambia has faced growing energy challenges due to a prolonged drought that has lowered water levels and reduced the output of hydropower stations.

Speaking at the launch, President Hichilema said, “This drought has taught us that we need to urgently diversify our energy sources.”

The solar plant is expected to play a key role in stabilising Zambia’s power supply while supporting one of its most important industries.

The revenue was earned in the months leading up to the conclusion of the Ethiopian fiscal year in July 2023, the energy minister told the Ethiopian News Agency .

He revealed that the country was effectively delivering energy to Sudan, Djibouti, and Kenya, praising the crucial connection between the electricity systems of Ethiopia and Kenya, which opens up the possibility of exporting energy via the East African Power Pool to South Africa .

"Ethiopia is blessed and conveniently positioned to provide clean, inexpensive electricity without harming the environment , fueling escalating demand," he said.

While noting that 93% of Ethiopia’s electricity is generated by hydropower, he added that Ethiopia intends to expand exports to South Sudan.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also announced in February that an agreement to provide electricity to Tanzania had been finalised as part of its efforts to contribute to regional integration.

The country is presently working on different hydroelectric power projects, such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is anticipated to produce over 6,000 megawatts of electricity once it’s fully operational.

The report titled ‘Renewables 2023: Analysis and Forecast to 2028 ’ further highlights the significant milestones in achieving this global shift over three to five years, between 2024 and 2028.

In 2024, the report forecasts a historic moment as variable renewable generation outpaces the traditionally dominant hydropower. This will mark a crucial shift in the energy paradigm, highlighting the increasing demand for diverse renewable sources in the global power mix.

Later in 2025, renewable energy is set to surpass coal-fired electricity generation. This shift reflects a substantial stride towards sustainable energy practices, emphasising the global commitment to reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Continuing in the same year, wind energy is projected to outperform nuclear electricity generation. This underlines the growing significance of wind power as a major contributor to the world's energy needs.

In 2026, the solar photovoltaic (PV) sector is expected to achieve a significant milestone by surpassing nuclear electricity generation. The increasing efficiency and affordability of solar technology play a significant role in this transformative shift toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

The IEA projects a conclusion to the shift in 2028, as solar PV is projected to overtake wind electricity generation. This milestone emphasises the accelerating growth and widespread adoption of solar power in the global energy landscape. Solar PV is a non-mechanical device designed to directly convert sunlight into electricity.

The report reads in part, “Over the forecast period, potential renewable electricity generation growth exceeds global demand growth, indicating a slow decline in coal-based generation while natural gas remains stable. In 2028, renewable energy sources will account for 42% of global electricity generation, with wind and solar PV making up 25%. In 2028, hydropower will remain the largest renewable electricity source. While renewables are currently the largest energy source for electricity generation in 57 countries, mostly thanks to hydropower, these countries represent just 14% of global power demand. By 2028, 68 countries will have renewables as their main power generation source, but they still only account for 17% of global demand.”

With nations increasingly adopting renewable energy policies and working towards achieving these milestones, the renewable energy revolution is set to leave a mark on the history of global power generation.

“The Ministerial meeting will build on the discussions of the previous sessions and technical group meeting of yesterday and continue efforts to achieve convergence,” said the Ambassador.

“Ethiopia is guided by the 2015 Declaration of Principles (DoP) on the GERD project. In particular, Ethiopia will continue to advocate for consensual outcomes based on the principle of equitable and reasonable utilisation of the waters of the Nile,” he added.

The GERD is a $4.2 billion hydroelectric project commissioned in 2011 on Ethiopia's Blue Nile, situated approximately 30 km upstream of the Sudanese border.

Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia signed a declaration of principles in March 2015, which would form the framework for talks between the three nations about the GERD's filling and operation.