Ethiopia Produces Electricity from GERD’s Second Turbine

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on Egypt and Sudan to resume negotiations, stressing that his country is “building the dam to generate electricity and achieve economic development. (ENA)
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on Egypt and Sudan to resume negotiations, stressing that his country is “building the dam to generate electricity and achieve economic development. (ENA)
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Ethiopia Produces Electricity from GERD’s Second Turbine

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on Egypt and Sudan to resume negotiations, stressing that his country is “building the dam to generate electricity and achieve economic development. (ENA)
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on Egypt and Sudan to resume negotiations, stressing that his country is “building the dam to generate electricity and achieve economic development. (ENA)

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed kickstarted electricity production from the second turbine at the controversial mega-dam on the Blue Nile on Thursday, despite continuing objections by Egypt and Sudan over the project.

He also confirmed that a third filling of the multi-billion dollar Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was under way, a development that led Egypt last month to protest to the United Nations Security Council.

Ahmed thanked “all relevant actors” for what he described as the “successful implementation” of the project in accordance with the plan.

He also congratulated "all Ethiopians for their continuous contributions to the project,” noting that the successes achieved so far prove that Ethiopia will surely attain its aspired prosperity.

The dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia began after Ethiopia began building its dam, with Cairo worried that it could threaten its share of the Nile’s water. Meanwhile, Ethiopia claims that the GERD is necessary for the country’s development.

Over the past 11 years of negotiation, Cairo has insisted on resolving the dispute peacefully, initiating negotiations that led to Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia signing the Declaration of Principles Agreement in Khartoum in 2015.

Cairo and Khartoum demand a legally binding agreement to the rules of filling and operating the dam. They reject any unilateral measure by Addis Ababa, fearing potential threats to their water security.

According to the Ethiopian official news agency ENA, the turbine’s initial production will generate at least 375 megawatts of power.

The $4.2-billion dam is ultimately expected to produce more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity, more than doubling Ethiopia's current output.

On Feb 20, the PM announced the generation of 375 megawatts of hydroelectricity from the first turbine.

GERD Project Manager Kifle Horo said the total construction work reached about 83.9%, while the civil works reached 95%, and the electromechanical works reached 61%.

Ahmed called on Egypt and Sudan to resume negotiations that have been stalled since April 2021, stressing that his country is building the dam to generate electricity and achieve economic development.

He called on the two downstream countries to understand Ethiopia's wish to meet its needs of electric power, denying any intention to harm its neighboring countries.

Ahmed underlined the importance of negotiations to settle issues of common interest through dialogue as the construction process continues.

Dr. Mohamed Mahran, a specialist in public international law and member of the American Society of International Law, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Ethiopia’s step is a violation of the rules of international law and relevant international agreements, as well as the 2015 Declaration of Principles.

“Their agreements require Addis Ababa to notify Cairo and Khartoum of any procedures on the international watercourse,” Mahran explained.

They also necessitate cooperation and commitment to exchanging information, and ensure that Ethiopia won’t harm the countries concerned and agree with the two Nile basin countries on the dam filling and operating dates and other principles that govern the non-navigational uses of international waterways.

He questioned Ahmed's assurances that the downstream countries would not be affected by the project, asking about the reasons why Ethiopia does not want to formulate these commitments in a legal binding agreement.

He further considered Addis Ababa’s intransigence a main reason behind the faltered talks.

Mahran called on the international community to hold an emergency meeting to take an urgent decision to halt the work and operation of the dam, oblige Ethiopia to negotiate to reach a legally binding agreement on the rules of its filling and operation and assume its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security in the region.



Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah Warns US Against Intervening in Israel-Iran Conflict

 Protesters hold Iranian flags during a protest against Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, at a bridge leading to the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Protesters hold Iranian flags during a protest against Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, at a bridge leading to the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
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Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah Warns US Against Intervening in Israel-Iran Conflict

 Protesters hold Iranian flags during a protest against Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, at a bridge leading to the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Protesters hold Iranian flags during a protest against Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, at a bridge leading to the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)

Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah warned on Sunday it would resume attacks on US troops in the region if the United States intervenes in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

"We are closely monitoring the movements of the American enemy's army in the region," Kataib Hezbollah Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi said in a statement. "If America intervenes in the war, we will act directly against its interests and bases spread across the region without hesitation."

Founded in the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah is one of the elite Iraqi armed factions closest to Iran. The group, a key pillar of Iran's network of regional proxy forces, has claimed responsibility for dozens of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US forces in both Iraq and Syria.

Early last year, Kataib Hezbollah announced the suspension of all its military operations against US troops in the region in response to efforts by the Iraqi government.

Kataib Hezbollah is part of a coalition of Iran-aligned groups known collectively as the "Axis of Resistance" — an umbrella of hardline Shiite armed factions that have claimed more than 150 attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since the onset of the Gaza war about 20 months ago.

Iraq, a rare ally of both Washington and Tehran, is striving to avoid upsetting its fragile stability while focusing on rebuilding after years of conflict.