Ethiopia dam's second turbine starts producing power

Ethiopia reports that energy is now being produced by the second turbine of the contentious Blue Nile dam.

The $4 billion (£3.2 billion) mega project has been a major point of contention between the East African nation and Egypt and Sudan, two nations that rely heavily on the Nile for their crucial water supplies.

After completion, it's anticipated to produce more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity.

The three nations have yet to reach a legally binding agreement despite numerous negotiations. It is unclear if they will return to the negotiation table anytime soon or how the most recent news will affect that.

Cairo and Khartoum are upset that the dam began filling before a contract was struck because they want a deal on water management and drought prevention.

In February of this year, electricity production in Ethiopia started.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated Thursday at a ceremony at the dam's construction site in the nation's northwest that there hasn't been any effect on the water supplies of the countries downstream.

In Ethiopia's plans to electrify tens of millions of households, particularly in rural areas throughout the nation, the dam is seen as crucial. Furthermore, it intends to export electricity to its neighbors.

The dam's construction took more than ten years.