Ethiopia powers up Africa's largest dam despite tensions downstream.

The article discusses the commissioning of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a $5 billion hydroelectric project in Ethiopia that has a capacity of 5,150 MW and aims to double the country's electricity generation. While the dam is expected to provide reliable energy for Ethiopia and enable power exports to neighboring countries, it has raised significant tensions with Egypt and Sudan, who view it as a threat to their water security due to their reliance on the Nile River. The article highlights the geopolitical implications of the dam, including Egypt's concerns over water supply and its calls for a binding agreement on the dam's operation, while Ethiopia asserts that the project will not harm downstream nations. Additionally, the GERD symbolizes Ethiopian sovereignty and resilience, as it was primarily funded through domestic resources. [Extracted from the article]