ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – President William Ruto will be the chief guest at the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The dam – built on the Blue Nile at a cost of about $5billion (£3.7billion) has been described as a symbol of Africa’s self-reliance and a milestone for Ethiopia.
“For Kenya, the Ethiopia – Kenya power interconnector already delivers clean, affordable electricity that strengthens energy security, stabilises supply during droughts and supports industrial growth,” a statement from State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed reads in part.
The dam, which has a reservoir around the size of Greater London, has sparked an upsurge in Ethiopian nationalism and brought the country together after years of ethnic division and strife.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric plant, is expected to provide energy to the continent’s 135 million inhabitants while also giving the nation “energy hegemony” and increasing its foreign exchange profits, the expert continued.
With plans to create a transmission network across the Red Sea to export to Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia was looking to expand its electricity sales to nearby countries like Kenya and Djibouti.
US President Donald Trump has previously claimed that the US “stupidly funded” the dam’s construction, and it “substantially” reduces the water flowing into the River Nile, echoing the concern of Egypt, a strong US ally.
How Ethiopia defended the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project
Ahead of GERD’s inauguration on Tuesday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stepped up his government’s rhetoric against the dam, saying that water security was a “red line” and the dam posed an “existential threat” to the North African nation.
Meanwhile, Nairobi indicated that together with the Kenya-Tanzania interconnector, these regional links enhance power trade, improve grid stability, and advance East Africa’s Integration through shared renewable energy.
“With peak demand in Kenya now above 2,393MW and rising capacity is vital for powering special economic zones, industrial parks, ICT hubs, and agro-processing,” Hussen further said.
Hussein reiterated that the partnership directly supports Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda by expanding renewable energy, boosting competitiveness, empowering communities, and deepening regional integration.
President Ruto, who departed the country today, Sunday, September 7, 2025, for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is attending the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), a landmark gathering of Heads of State and Government aimed at advancing Africa’s leadership in climate action and green growth.
Building on the 2023 Nairobi Declaration, which set Africa’s bold climate agenda, President Ruto will launch the report “From Nairobi to Addis Ababa: Africa’s Journey of Climate Action and Partnership.” The report reviews progress since the first Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, assesses current realities, and maps future pathways.
Which other activities will President Ruto engage in while in Ethiopia
According to State House, Nairobi, the head of state will also witness the signing of the Cooperation Framework for the African Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), bringing together African governments, finances, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and private sector actors.
“The framework will coordinate financial and technical support, mobilise investment, and align with key priorities such as the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa, AfCFTA, and the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA). A Joint Project Preparation Facility, backed by financial institutions, will fast-track bankable green projects.”
As chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), President Ruto will push for fair resource valuation, equitable carbon pricing, and financial reforms to ease debt and climate risks. He will also engage in climate finance talks to unlock investment and amplify Africa’s role in shaping global reforms.
Beyond the summit, he will address the Africa-CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Summit on reparatory justice, debt sustainability, and transcontinental cooperation, alongside bilateral meetings to strengthen ties, expand trade, and advance joint action on global challenges.
Discussion about this post