concrete, turbines and flowing water, GERD represents a national ethos, as well as a vision of dignity, self-reliance and equitable utilization of a shared resource. The Abbay River, known to the rest of the world as the Blue Nile, is Ethiopia’s most abundant and strategic water resource. Although the Abbay River contributes 86% of the Nile’s water, Ethiopia has been unable to harness this asset to address its own needs—until now. With a capacity of 5.15 gigawatts and annual production potential of nearly 15,760 gigawatt-hours, GERD will more than double Ethiopia’s energy output. The Nile River Basin is undergoing a transformation.