Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

Why in News?

• As the deadline draws closer for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the river Nile to become functional, the dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt, with Sudan caught in between, has escalated into a diplomatic stand-off.
• Differences were laid bare recently when Ethiopia skipped the latest round of tripartite negotiations with Egypt and Sudan in Washington, being mediated by the U.S. and the World Bank.

About Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

• It was formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam.
• It is a gravity dam whose construction began in 2011 on the Blue Nile tributary in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the Nile’s waters flow.
• When complete, the Grand Renaissance Dam, which Ethiopia is building, will be Africa’s biggest hydroelectric power plant.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Grand Renaissance Dam which sometimes occurs in news is located in which among the following countries?

a) Ethiopia

b) Egypt

c) Eritrea

d) Sudan

Answer to Prelims question