Kenya and South Sudan announced plans to import surplus electricity from Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as the continent’s largest hydropower project was officially inaugurated in Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia.

The announcements were made during the inaugural event, which brought together regional and international leaders to witness the launch of the megawatt facility.

The ceremony highlighted Ethiopia’s ambition to become a regional energy hub and the dam’s role in advancing cross-border cooperation.

Kenyan President William Ruto said his government would formalise a power purchase agreement to channel electricity into industries, ICT hubs, manufacturing, and agro-processing sectors. He described the partnership as a “living example of regional integration,” stressing that additional capacity would improve grid reliability, particularly during droughts, while supplying affordable power to special economic zones and industrial parks.

Ruto added that the GERD provides a “blueprint for scaling similar projects across Africa” to meet rising energy demand driven by population growth and urbanisation.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit said the dam would deliver electricity to towns, villages, schools, and hospitals across his country, opening opportunities for economic and social development. Calling the GERD “a symbol of unity, sacrifice, and determination,” he reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to closer ties with Ethiopia and urged broader regional cooperation.