The Ministry of Transport and Logistics announced that Ethiopia is preparing to open a maritime hub on the reservoir of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), with plans to introduce modern boat transport services, as reported by Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA).

The government has begun development work on the reservoir area, which is expected to serve as a centre for transport, tourism and fisheries. Alemu Sime (PhD), minister of transport and logistics, said new vessels will provide passenger transport, leisure cruises and fishing activities, adding that the initiative aims to create economic opportunities around the dam.

“The new boats will deliver multiple services, including passenger transport, tourist entertainment and fishing,” Alemu said, noting the economic value of the project.

He also indicated that an existing small airstrip near the dam will be upgraded to accommodate regular flight services, linking the area to domestic and potentially regional routes. GERD is expected to be inaugurated in the coming days. With an annual generation capacity of 15,760 gigawatt-hours, it is projected to yield up to 1 billion US dollars in revenue each year.