This archive report was first published on 27 December 2019.
Published on December 27, 2019, Ethiopia's ambitious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project has been plagued by corruption allegations, straining relations with neighboring Egypt.
The GERD, set to be Africa's largest hydro-electric dam, has already raised concerns over its impact on the downstream Nile River, which provides almost all of Egypt's water.
Former head of Ethiopian Electric Power Azeb Asnake and 49 others were charged with corruption in relation to a forest clearing project for the country's flagship mega hydro project, a 5,150 Mega Watts hydro dam, according to the Ethiopia News Agency.
Launched in 2011, the project was initially estimated to cost four billion dollars and provide electricity for Ethiopia's population of over 100 million.
However, in September 2018, Asnake was forced to resign as head of the EEP amid allegations of corruption and poor management of several Ethiopian energy projects.
The GERD measures 1.8 kilometers long and 145 meters high, with a scheduled completion date by the end of 2020 and full operations by 2022.
But if the dam's reservoir is filled too quickly, it could severely affect Egypt, which relies on the Nile River for 97 percent of its surface water.
