The Nile is more than a river – it is a lifeline, power factor and object of dispute. On Tuesday, Ethiopia opened the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), a gigantic building that has been dividing the region for years. With a 1.78 kilometer long and 145 meter high wall, the capital Addis Ababa taps the blue Nile. Behind it builds up a lake, larger than London. The power plant is said to deliver more than 5000 megawatts of electricity – enough to electrify a country with 135 million people and to make Ethiopia the leading energyation of Africa. But while ABEBA is celebrated in Addis, the fear of your future grows in Cairo and Khartum.
