Webuild’s Ten Mega-Projects, Two in Ethiopia: GERD and Koysha

Webuild’s Ten Mega-Projects, Two in Ethiopia: GERD and Koysha Webuild’s Monumental Footprint: Inside the World’s Ten Most Ambitious Infrastructure Projects With Ethiopia as a rising energy powerhouse, two of Webuild’s boldest ventures illuminate how infrastructure can drive national transformation. A Century of Vision Meets Twenty-First Century Challenges From tunnels under the Alps to hydroelectric giants in the Horn of Africa, Webuild—the successor to the 114-year-old Salini Impregilo—has built its reputation on delivering projects that redraw maps and recast economies. The Italian construction giant operates across five continents, constructing dams taller than skyscrapers, metro systems that reinvent entire cities and rail corridors that knit nations together. Determining Webuild’s “largest” projects goes beyond tallying budgets. Some ventures matter for their geopolitical weight, others for record-breaking engineering. But viewed together, they reveal a company that builds more than infrastructure: it builds the very scaffolding for sustainable growth, energy security and urban resilience. Among the ten mega-projects that define Webuild’s global presence, two stand out not only for their scale but for their national symbolism: Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Koysha Hydroelectric Project. Their story shows how infrastructure can become a tool of sovereignty and continental influence. Ethiopia’s Twin Energy Giants Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: The Flagship of a Continental Ambition Rising 170 metres above the Blue Nile, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is the largest hydropower project in Africa and the most consequential in Webuild’s Ethiopian portfolio. Built at a cost of over $5 billion, an extraordinary 91 percent financed by Ethiopia’s own central bank and the remainder through citizen bonds, the GERD has become a national rallying point and a potent symbol of self-reliance. Its 5,150 MW installed capacity will more than double Ethiopia’s electricity generation and provide a stable source of clean energy for over 120 million citizens, with surplus power destined for export to Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti. By creating a renewable-energy surplus, the dam positions Ethiopia as a regional electricity hub and a key player in Africa’s energy transition. But the GERD is more than an engineering marvel; it is a geopolitical pivot. The project has sparked protracted negotiations with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan, testing diplomacy along the Nile Basin. For Ethiopia, the dam represents both an assertion of energy sovereignty and a gateway to industrialization. For Webuild, it is proof of its capacity to deliver nation-defining infrastructure under intense political and technical scrutiny. Koysha Hydroelectric Project: Consolidating an Energy Strategy Downstream on the Omo River, Webuild is constructing the Koysha Hydroelectric Project, a natural complement to the GERD. With a contract value of €2.5 billion (about $2.8 billion), Koysha will add another 2,200 MW of generation capacity through an 180-metre-high roller-compacted concrete dam. Koysha is part of a deliberate Ethiopian strategy to transform the country into the “powerhouse of East Africa.” Together with the GERD and the Gibe III dam, it forms a cascading chain of hydro projects designed to guarantee domestic electricity supply, attract energy-intensive industry and create an export market that can generate precious foreign exchange. The project also carries deep environmental and economic significance. By harnessing renewable hydropower on a massive scale, Ethiopia aims to curb reliance on fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions—while creating thousands of jobs during construction and in the industries that abundant power will enable. Webuild’s role here illustrates how a global contractor can become a long-term partner in a nation’s development blueprint. The Other Global Landmarks While Ethiopia provides perhaps the most dramatic example of infrastructure as a lever of national transformation, Webuild’s global portfolio is equally striking: Riyadh Metro, Saudi Arabia – A $22.5–25 billion driverless network that will cut 250,000 daily car trips and redefine urban mobility. Brenner Base Tunnel, Italy/Austria – 230 km of tunnels beneath the Alps; costs have climbed to €10.5 billion as Europe invests in low-carbon freight transport. Snowy 2.0, Australia – A “giant battery” for the national grid, now budgeted at AUD 12 billion, capable of storing 350,000 MWh of renewable energy. Terzo Valico dei Giovi Railway, Italy – A €6–6.2 billion, 53 km high-capacity rail link unlocking Genoa’s port for continental trade. Panama Canal Expansion, Panama – A >$5 billion enlargement that doubled canal capacity and preserved Panama’s central role in global shipping. Copenhagen Cityringen Metro, Denmark – A $3.2 billion, 15.5 km automated circle line advancing the city’s 2025 carbon-neutral goal. Diriyah Square, Saudi Arabia – A $2 billion cultural and retail district integrating traditional Nadji architecture with modern urban design. Rogun Dam, Tajikistan – Set to become the world’s tallest dam at 335 m, generating 3,600 MW and securing energy independence for Central Asia’s most mountainous nation. Patterns Beneath the Concrete These projects, from the Alps to the Omo River, reveal recurring themes: Hydropower Leadership – Ethiopia’s GERD and Koysha, along with Tajikistan’s Rogun Dam and Australia’s Snowy 2.0, demonstrate Webuild’s deep expertise in large-scale renewable energy—exactly the kind of capacity the world needs for decarbonization. Nation-Building Impact – In Ethiopia especially, infrastructure is political. GERD and Koysha are not just power plants; they are instruments of economic independence, industrialization and regional influence. Risk and Reward – Mega-projects like Snowy 2.0 and the Brenner Base Tunnel show how inflation, geology and supply-chain shocks can drive costs upward. Yet their strategic value—be it energy security or freight efficiency—ultimately outweighs the volatility. Outlook: Ethiopia as a Case Study in Infrastructure-Driven Development The Ethiopian projects highlight a central truth about Webuild’s work: scale is measured not only in billions of dollars but in the transformation of nations. By delivering GERD and Koysha, Webuild has helped Ethiopia leap toward a future of energy surplus and economic self-determination. As governments worldwide pursue climate goals and modernize aging infrastructure, the need for such transformative partnerships will only intensify. Webuild’s Ethiopian experience shows how engineering expertise, patient financing and political will can combine to reshape a country’s economic destiny—an object lesson for emerging economies everywhere.

Yeka Hills Transformed—But at What Human, Ecological and Economic Cost?

Yeka Hills Transformed—But at What Human, Ecological and Economic Cost? The Yeka Hills Transformation A geospatial and developmental analysis of Addis Ababa’s Chaka Project—an emblem of ambition, a magnet for capital, and a test of governance. Analysis · Updated September 12, 2025 · Addis Ababa Executive summary Few urban projects in Africa match the velocity and spectacle of the Chaka Project in Addis Ababa’s Yeka Hills. Presented as a 503-hectare smart satellite city designed to decongest the capital, Chaka fuses a new national palace complex with premium housing, hospitality and retail, three artificial lakes and roughly 29 kilometres of new roads. It is positioned as the architectural anchor of a wider city-corridor programme that promises better pavements, bike lanes, tree-lined boulevards and upgraded utilities. The price tag is heavily disputed, the timeline ambitious and the governance model opaque. Yet the project’s momentum is unmistakable: satellite-visible earthworks, terraced platforms across escarpments and the outlines of a new urban grid cut into what was, until recently, one of Addis Ababa’s green lungs. This article treats Chaka as a case study in megaproject political economy. It examines the stated vision and the embedded corridor strategy; deconstructs the master plan and stakeholder map; reconstructs the landscape transformation using time-series imagery; evaluates financing scenarios and their macro-signals; and weighs the social and environmental ledger. The core conclusion is double-edged: Chaka showcases state capacity to mobilise contractors and alter terrain at speed, but its long-term legitimacy will hinge on transparency, mitigation of ecological loss and credible public dividends beyond the palatial slopes. What Chaka is—and what it is not To its champions, Chaka is a keystone of a new urban order: a planned, elegant satellite city that contrasts with the capital’s improvisational sprawl. The flagship palace complex is flanked by gated residential districts, hospitality, retail and civic spaces. Communications emphasise modern boulevards, bike lanes, digital connectivity and a “green” urbanism meant to signal a break with the past. Yet Chaka is not, at least officially, a standalone palace project. It has been consciously tethered to the Addis Ababa City Corridor—sometimes branded as the Smart City programme—that upgrades axes across the metropolis. One corridor explicitly links Chaka’s South Gate to Megenagna, Haya Hulet and Meskel Square over roughly seven kilometres, increasing the project’s political salience by tying elite architecture to public-realm improvements. Anatomy of the plan The footprint—just over 503 hectares—rivals entire historic complexes elsewhere. Within it, the master plan assigns roles with corporate precision. A state contractor leads the palace package. A major Chinese builder is associated with the marquee hotel. The roads authority is extending a 29-kilometre grid through escarpment terrain. Private Ethiopian developers—most visibly the Ovid Group—carry large housing tranches marketed as high-amenity living within a “forest sanctuary” aesthetic. Geospatial evidence: a landscape remade Prior to 2022, the Yeka Hills read as a high-elevation green lung—eucalyptus stands, footpaths, church trails, and informal recreation areas above CMC and Megenagna. City planning documents described much of it as multi-functional forest, even as encroachment grew. Since the project’s launch, a phased metamorphosis is visible: rapid canopy clearance; bulk earthworks and terracing; vertical construction; and the imposition of a gridded road hierarchy. The artificial lakes appear as vast bowls cut into former slopes. Security perimeters, access control and a monumental entrance ensemble have followed. Finance and the political economy of megaprojects Chaka and its allied corridors are marketed as self-financing: a patchwork of public-private partnerships, domestic and international donations, and developer capital. In practice, the public contribution is substantial even without line-item treasury spending. Land is state-owned and has been allocated at scale—503 hectares that, under market conditions, would carry extraordinary valuations. Utilities, trunk roads, perimeter security and reputational guarantees come via public agencies. Developers typically post equity slivers and raise bank debt against pre-sales; the state carries political risk and the opportunity cost of land. External money matters. Gulf capital is widely believed to be influential; diaspora flows are another pillar. The donation model is hotly debated. However structured, the mix allows the government to claim minimal budgetary outlay while the public balance sheet shoulders indirect costs. The upside is speed: a mechanism to marshal large contractors and keep cash flowing even as macro headwinds bite. The downside is opacity: blurred lines between public goods and elite amenities, and few audited milestones that citizens can use to assess value for money. The corridor wrapper is politically savvy. By attaching Chaka to a city-wide programme of pavements, libraries, parks and bike lanes, officials shift the narrative from a palace on a hill to a mobility and public-realm upgrade for the metropolis. One spine runs from Chaka’s South Gate through Megenagna and Haya Hulet to Meskel Square—symbolically and practically binding the enclave to the civic core. Winners, losers and the social ledger For high-income households and the diaspora, the promise is clear: premium housing with proximity to state power, commanding views and new infrastructure. A flagship private developer markets roughly 1,900 apartments across a nine-hectare parcel with retail and amenities; other firms have signed for adjacent phases. Hospitality operators anticipate diplomatic and investor traffic once the palace and lakeside promenades open. Retail and property management will add jobs and tax receipts if occupancy is strong. But the opportunity cost is borne nearby. Evictions associated with corridor clearances, demolition of fragile housing and the tightening of access have raised the political temperature. Runners who trained on the slopes, picnickers and pilgrims bound for historic hilltop churches have watched public space shrink behind perimeter fencing and checkpoints. Ethiopia’s land tenure regime makes repossession legally straightforward; that does not make it painless. Long-term legitimacy will depend on compensation that is timely and adequate, credible relocation options, and sustained investment in accessible parks elsewhere to offset the green deficit. Information scarcity and the misinformation boom With few official master plans in circulation and sporadic updates, the information market has been cornered by glossy renders—many not even Ethiopian. Fact-checking groups have repeatedly debunked viral images that misattribute foreign projects to Chaka, from Central Asian bridges to Mexican “forest cities”. The dynamic is circular: opacity invites rumour; rumour muddies accountability; the cycle repeats. Clear communication—floor-by-floor progress, monthly budgets, environmental baselines—would reduce the incentive to fill the vacuum with speculation. Construction status and the near horizon Public videos and trade chatter suggest the entrance ensemble and primary boulevard are well advanced; lake basins are shaped; residential shells are rising in phases; and the new road network is visible from arterial approaches. Contracts publicised in mid-2025 cite a substantial housing tranche for more than 4,100 units, with a 2026 date often floated for selected completions. The broader corridor programme’s target is 2025, though megaproject timelines typically slip. The near-term question is not whether the palace opens, but whether the surrounding city components—transport interfaces, parks, drainage—arrive at the same cadence. Economic significance: signal, magnet and risk Urban megaprojects do as much with symbolism as with cement. For Ethiopia, Chaka signals a pivot from austerity to aspiration, intended to reassure investors that state capacity and political will can marshal capital, bend terrain and deliver at speed. The palace’s prominence underscores regime durability; the corridor wrapper suggests a city learning to design public space as a system rather than an afterthought. If the imagery holds, Addis could market a new skyline, lakefront promenades and premium addresses to a diaspora that has long invested in low-yield plots and mid-rise shells. But magnets can repel. High-end supply in an economy with limited middle-class depth risks vacancy or speculative churn. If financing leans on pre-sales to a narrow buyer pool, developer cashflows will be sensitive to exchange-rate stress, remittance cycles and political headlines. The fiscal optics matter: even indirect subsidies bite when budgets tighten, and public patience can sour if promised social dividends—a safer, greener, more mobile city—arrive slower than walls rise in Yeka. For the project to escape the “enclave trap,” corridor benefits must be tangible: buses that run on time, crossings that protect pedestrians, and pavements continuous enough to matter. Governance tests that will decide the legacy Transparency Publish reliable, consolidated budgets and staged scopes; standardise how PPP obligations—land valuations, utility extensions, security—are accounted for. Sunlight would cool a fevered rumour market and make it easier to judge success against original intent. Open data on monthly progress, procurement and change orders should be the default, not the exception. Environmental stewardship Replace rhetoric with measured baselines and targets: canopy restoration offsite to compensate for losses, runoff management for newly impervious surfaces, lake water-balance disclosures, and biodiversity corridors that are more than rendered greens. A “forest city” must contend with the forest it replaced. Urban heat-island effects on the escarpment should be modelled and mitigated through albedo choices, shade trees and water-sensitive design. Social contract Where relocation is unavoidable, document compensation and rehousing in the open, at speed. Keep corridors genuinely civic: pavements continuous, crossings safe, and public transport reliable. Gateways to palaces should not become walls for neighbourhoods. Community amenities—clinics, schools, markets—ought to be front-loaded rather than promised for later phases. Bottom line Chaka is many things at once: a theatre of state power; a testbed for corridor-led urbanism; a property play riding on diaspora cash; a construction campaign that has swapped trees for terraces; and a communications challenge the authorities have, so far, struggled to meet. If delivery is paired with transparency, if the corridors function for ordinary commuters, and if ecological losses are offset with measurable gains, Yeka’s engineered vistas may yet become an asset rather than a grievance. If not, the palatial slopes will stand as a monument to a heady phase of ambition—grand from afar, contested up close. Appendix: feature graphic (hero)

Inside GERD: Terrain, Air Defenses, Cyber—Why a Strike Is Unlikely

Inside GERD: Terrain, Air Defenses, Cyber—Why a Strike Is Unlikely Inside GERD: Terrain, Air Defenses, Cyber—Why a Strike Is Unlikely Analysis | Energy security, military deterrence, and Nile geopolitics Ethiopia’s newly inaugurated mega-dam promises electricity, export revenues and leverage. It also sits at the centre of the Nile Basin’s most combustible dispute. A clear-eyed assessment suggests robust Ethiopian defences, constrained Egyptian options and a future defined less by air raids than by bargaining, cyber probes and mutual dependence. Executive Summary The inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a watershed—not merely for Ethiopia’s electricity grid but for how power, in every sense, is balanced along the Nile. Ethiopia’s deterrent is multi-domain and cumulative, combining location, terrain and air defences with cyber hygiene, reservoir policing, ecological stewardship and regional interdependence through power trade. Egypt possesses aircraft and munitions that in theory could threaten faraway infrastructure. In practice, range, refuelling, air-defence attrition, political costs and Sudan’s exposure render a direct strike improbable. The dispute will likely persist as managed tension—more courtroom than cockpit—until a durable operating framework converts this sore point into shared utility. Introduction: A Strategic Dam in a Strategic Valley Fourteen years in the making, Africa’s largest hydro-electric project embodies economic aspiration and political assertion. Financed largely by Ethiopian pockets, from payroll deductions to diaspora bonds, the GERD is a totem of self-reliance. Its main structure rises roughly 170 metres, with a crest stretching close to two kilometres, corralling a reservoir designed to hold tens of billions of cubic metres. The installed capacity, projected above five gigawatts, could more than double domestic generation, feed hungry factories and light rural towns. Excess power can be sold to neighbours, knitting grids and interests. The project also unsettles precedent. For a century Egyptian policy treated upstream development as trespass. Ethiopia rejects colonial-era carve-ups that sidelined it, arguing for equitable and reasonable use. That clash elevates the GERD from a utility to a strategic node. It must be guarded as critical national infrastructure and as a lever in a protracted negotiation. Ethiopia’s Integrated Security Architecture Deterrence here is not a single system but a dense weave. Geography helps first. The Blue Nile carves a deep gorge through highlands that frustrate line-of-approach planning and degrade low-level ingress. The reservoir perimeter is patrolled and access by land and water controlled. Above the site sits a layered air picture. Ethiopia fields point-defence batteries at critical nodes; short-range systems pair missiles with rapid-fire cannon to defeat aircraft, helicopters, glide bombs and drones in the terminal envelope. Legacy surface-to-air systems remain in inventory and complicate mission design. Interceptor cover provided by multirole fighters increases the cost of repeated raids, which any serious campaign would require. Air Power as a Tax on the Adversary Fighter aviation reinforces the message that an attack would be expensive and uncertain. With heavyweight interceptors and newer multirole jets inducted, Ethiopia can contest airspace, prosecute standoff shooters and make tanker tracks perilous. The point is not absolute denial but escalation of cost and complexity. Point-defence units catch what slips past area coverage; terrain forces munitions higher or wider; interceptors add a moving, thinking layer. For an attacker, each layer imposes fuel, timing and survivability taxes. Security on the Water and Along the Shore Reservoir policing turns a broad blue target into a controlled worksite. A dedicated marine unit patrols exclusion zones, deters sabotage and enforces navigation rules for service craft. Shoreside sensors, fences and response teams reduce the window for mischief. The best defence against the ingenious amateur is visibility, routine and fast arrival. The Digital Nervous System The dam’s operational technology is both brain and Achilles’ heel. Industrial-control networks are kept physically separated from the open internet, segmented and tightly permissioned. Change control, credential hygiene and device whitelisting are dull but decisive. National cyber agencies have already had to fend off probes. History offers cautionary tales—from centrifuges spun to failure by malicious code to sluice gates manipulated through sheer password laxity. A power station that does not talk to the world cannot be charmed by it. The Natural Firewall Sediment is a slow saboteur. Soil washed from denuded hills shortens a reservoir’s useful life. Ethiopia’s watershed work—tree cover, terracing, upstream catchment management—is therefore not green virtue but asset protection. Fewer tonnes of silt mean more water through runners and less dead storage. The cheapest turbine upgrade may be a million seedlings. Diplomacy as Insurance Interdependence is an understated shield. Every new cross-border power-purchase agreement creates another constituency for stability. When neighbours’ grids dim if the GERD goes dark, the circle of silent guardians widens. Commerce cannot eliminate rivalry, but it can discipline it. Egypt’s Capabilities and the Allure of the Dramatic Option Egypt calls the GERD an existential matter. Its air force fields long-legged multirole aircraft, has upgraded legacy fleets and seeks standoff munitions that can be launched from outside dense defences. The theory is clear enough. The practice is messy. The distance from Egyptian bases to the Ethiopian highlands forces aerial refuelling or forward staging, each a vulnerability. Tankers are large, few and visible. A raid must penetrate layered defences, deliver sufficient effect against reinforced targets in challenging terrain and then reverse the route. One-off symbolism rarely suffices. Campaigns require persistence, munitions stockpiles, political cover and acceptance of losses. There are further brakes. Sudan sits directly downstream. Any strike that compromises the structure risks catastrophic flooding in a neighbour whose alignment is fluid and whose own dams depend on predictable flows. The diplomatic costs would be high in a world allergic to attacks on critical water infrastructure. The net assessment is that Egypt keeps the military card in the deck for leverage, not for play. Asymmetry, Proxies and the Grey Zone When head-on confrontation is costly, states shuffle into the shadows. Egypt’s leverage thus tilts to lawfare, diplomacy and the grey arts of influence. Litigation over water rights keeps the matter on international agendas. Public diplomacy frames Ethiopia as a spoiler of an established order. In parallel, the region’s tangled conflicts create opportunities to sap Ethiopian bandwidth by amplifying insurgent pressures or exploiting border frictions. Ethiopia, for its part, must assume that cyber probes will persist and that domestic polarisation will be tested by external hands. Sudan’s Calculus and the Price of Poor Co-ordination Khartoum understands the GERD’s potential to tame floods, smooth flows and trim sediment, benefits that would lengthen the life of Sudanese dams and irrigators’ canal networks. It also carries the memory of early fills when uncoordinated changes muddied intakes and forced shutdowns. That experience nudged Sudan closer to Cairo on the narrow but important demand for binding procedures and timely data. This is less ideology than prudence. The outlines of a deal are visible in the problem itself. Weapons and Systems: Named Platforms and What They Mean Debate often chases specifications. Strategy cares about how families of systems overlap under the constraints of distance, terrain and politics. Below are the principal platforms repeatedly cited around the GERD dispute—framed in plain language, without sensitive technical minutiae. Ethiopia: Point-Defence at the Dam — Pantsir-S1 Pantsir-S1 is a short-range “point air-defence” system that combines quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles with twin 30 mm guns and multisensor tracking. Its job is to defeat aircraft, helicopters, guided bombs, cruise-missile-class threats and drones in the terminal seconds before impact. Deployed at critical nodes, it creates a dense inner “bubble” and can operate autonomously or as part of a wider network. In practice, it raises the cost of precision attack near the dam itself. Ethiopia: Area/Legacy SAM Coverage — SA-2/SA-3 (legacy) and reported S-300 family Legacy SAMs such as SA-2/SA-3 remain in inventory and matter less for glamour than for complication: they push inbound aircraft higher, wider or later than planned and force expendables and fuel burn. Reports and open-source commentary have periodically suggested the possible presence or pursuit of S-300-family area-defence systems; regardless of confirmation, the key effect of any area layer is to extend the defended footprint and make route planning, timing and refuelling harder for an attacker. Ethiopia: Interceptor & Multirole Fighters — Su-27, Su-30 The Ethiopian Air Force fields heavyweight Su-27 air-superiority aircraft and has inducted Su-30-class multirole fighters. Interceptors complicate deep-strike logistics by threatening tankers and support assets; multirole fighters add a manoeuvring layer that forces hostile packages to budget fuel for contingencies and reduces their time on task. The effect is cumulative when paired with ground-based air defence. Ethiopia: Reservoir & Shore Security — Marine Police A dedicated marine police unit patrols the GERD reservoir and shoreline approaches. Exclusion zones, routine patrols, sensors and quick-reaction teams narrow the window for sabotage from the water and integrate with land-side checks. Egypt: Long-Range Strike Platforms — Rafale, F-16, MiG-29M The Egyptian Air Force operates Dassault Rafale, upgraded F-16 and MiG-29M multirole fighters. In theory, with aerial refuelling or forward staging, these can support deep-penetration missions. In practice, range, tanker vulnerability, terrain and layered air defence drive up attrition risk and reduce sortie efficiency—especially for any campaign that requires repeat visits rather than a one-off gesture. Egypt: Standoff Munitions — SCALP-class cruise missiles, AASM-class guided weapons Standoff weapons launched from outside the densest air-defence zones reduce shooter exposure. Examples frequently cited include SCALP-class air-launched cruise missiles and AASM-class glide/precision kits. These change geometry but not fundamentals: routes are constrained, inventories finite, and reinforced hydro structures demand multiple well-planned effects to generate lasting disruption. Egypt: Special Operations — El-Sa’ka, Task Force 777 (limitations) Egypt’s special-operations units—El-Sa’ka and Task Force 777—are oriented to counter-terrorism and reconnaissance. Open reporting has long flagged organisational and training constraints that would make a long-range sabotage mission against a guarded, remote, high-value facility exceptionally hard. Distance, language, logistics and luck remain unromantic gatekeepers. Cyber as a Weapon Class The dam’s industrial control systems are deliberately segregated from public networks, with strict access controls and monitored change procedures. Past probes attributed by Ethiopian authorities to hostile actors underline the point: the most effective “weapon” in this domain is process discipline—patching, credential hygiene, signed updates and rehearsed incident response. Many notorious infrastructure breaches worldwide have hinged on weak passwords and poor segmentation rather than exotic code. Strategic Outlook The near future is unlikely to feature fighter streams over the Blue Nile. It will feature diplomacy, public relations and intermittent cyber scuffles. It will also feature commerce. The more the GERD’s electrons light cities beyond Ethiopia’s borders, the more finance ministries will treat its uninterrupted operation as a regional public good. The logic of interconnection is incremental but sticky. In time, habit becomes norm. What a Durable Settlement Looks Like The central rows are familiar. Ethiopia seeks operational latitude to manage hydrology and maximise generation. Sudan wants timely data and rules that keep its intakes humming. Egypt wants guardrails for bad years. A compact that binds the three through a standing technical commission, live data exchange and clear drought management protocols is possible. If designed well, such a framework would couple Ethiopia’s discretion to obligation: latitude in normal conditions, pre-agreed constraints in exceptional ones. In return, neighbours would formalise power purchases that turn water into watts and watts into money. Everyone would have something at stake besides pride. Conclusion Great dams manufacture more than electricity. They manufacture bargaining chips and, sometimes, illusions. The GERD’s security rests less on any single battery of missiles than on the way Ethiopia has stacked frictions for would-be attackers while cultivating incentives for would-be partners. Egypt’s options are not nil, but the theatrically satisfying ones are strategically unsound. The likely endgame is a regime that recognises hydrological reality, allocates risk for lean years and monetises abundance for fat ones. The GERD is a machine; its politics are organic. Both will need tending. Editor’s note: Platform descriptions are intentionally non-technical and indicative. Operational details evolve with deployments, upgrades and doctrine.

Addis Ababa Unveils 8-Story Zewditu Hospital Expansion

Addis Ababa Unveils 8-Story Zewditu Hospital Expansion Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — A new chapter in Ethiopia’s healthcare modernization is set to begin with the completion of the Zewditu Memorial Hospital B+G+8 expansion building, a state-of-the-art facility constructed by the Addis Ababa Design and Construction Works Bureau. The hospital expansion, already finalized and awaiting official inauguration, is being hailed as a pivotal investment in the city’s medical infrastructure. A Modern Medical Facility for a Growing Capital The new building, rising eight stories above ground, has been designed to serve Addis Ababa’s rapidly growing population with modern and specialized medical services. The facility includes: 349 patient beds to expand inpatient capacity. Laboratories and radiation therapy rooms for advanced diagnostics and cancer treatment. Dialysis units to address the city’s increasing demand for renal care. A dedicated oxygen plant, ensuring reliable supply for critical care. Administrative offices, cafeteria, and a conference hall, creating a full-service environment for patients and staff. This multi-functional design signals Ethiopia’s commitment to bridging gaps in specialized healthcare, while also positioning Addis Ababa as a regional medical hub. Key Stakeholders in the Project The Addis Ababa Design and Construction Works Bureau led the project as the client, overseeing planning, financing, and supervision. Yohannes Haile Construction played a central role as the main contractor, bringing the design into reality. Addis Ababa Construction Design, Construction and Consulting Company worked as the consultant, ensuring quality standards and technical compliance. The collaboration between these public and private actors reflects Ethiopia’s evolving model of urban development—state-led vision combined with private sector execution. Strategic Importance for Addis Ababa Ethiopia’s healthcare system faces mounting pressures: urban population growth, rising cases of non-communicable diseases, and the need for specialized treatment previously unavailable locally. The Zewditu expansion is therefore more than just a hospital wing—it represents: Urban resilience: relieving congestion at overstretched facilities. Medical self-sufficiency: reducing reliance on overseas treatment for oncology and dialysis patients. Public confidence: demonstrating the government’s tangible investment in health infrastructure amid wider economic reforms. The hospital also complements Addis Ababa’s broader “Smart City” transformation agenda, where health, education, and transport projects are being positioned as core pillars of sustainable urban growth. With construction complete, the hospital is now ready for official inauguration in the Ethiopian New Year, aligning with other public service launches in Addis Ababa. Once operational, the expansion is expected to employ hundreds of medical professionals, technicians, and support staff, generating new jobs while strengthening the capital’s health system. Officials from the Addis Ababa Design and Construction Works Bureau expressed pride in delivering a project of this scale, noting that it “sets a new benchmark for public healthcare infrastructure in Ethiopia.” The completion of the Zewditu Memorial Hospital B+G+8 expansion marks a milestone in Addis Ababa’s quest to provide high-quality, specialized medical care for its citizens. As Ethiopia continues to balance economic reform with social investment, projects like this one demonstrate how urban design and healthcare modernization can converge to shape the future of its capital.

Meet Emebet Mehabaw: Ethiopia’s First Woman Selected to Travel to Space in 2029

Meet Emebet Mehabaw: Ethiopia’s First Woman Selected to Travel to Space in 2029 Addis Ababa – Ethiopia is preparing to mark a milestone in global space history as Emebet Mehabaw, a young aerospace engineer and space scientist, has been selected to travel into orbit in March 2029. She will represent Ethiopia as the nation’s first astronaut candidate and says she intends to carry the Ethiopian flag on this groundbreaking journey. The mission, organized by Titans Space Industries Inc., will take place aboard the Titans Genesis Spaceplane and will be led by NASA veteran astronaut and retired U.S. Army Colonel William McArthur Jr.. McArthur is a seasoned space traveler with three Space Shuttle flights and six months as Commander of the International Space Station under his belt. A Five-Hour Orbital Mission The inaugural flight will be a five-hour orbital mission, reaching 300 km above Earth—nearly a quarter of the distance to the International Space Station. It will feature three hours of sustained zero gravity, offering scientists an unparalleled environment for research and human exploration. Mrs. Mehabaw, who works as an aerospace engineer at Titan Space Industries, was chosen after rigorous evaluation of her physical, psychological, and research qualifications. She is expected to begin intensive astronaut training in 2026 alongside an international team of candidates. A Childhood Dream Turned Reality Reflecting on her selection, Mehabaw shared how surreal the moment feels: “I think of my 10-year-old self… how proud she would be. Coming from Ethiopia, a place where space education is still a dream and mentors are rare, this moment feels surreal.” She added that she is not only bringing her childhood dream to life but also carrying the hopes of millions of young Africans and space enthusiasts who aspire to reach beyond the skies: “To every Ethiopian, every African, every dreamer reading this: Never. Ever. Give. Up. Keep pushing. Keep dreaming. You never know what tomorrow holds.” International Recognition Emebet Mehabaw’s journey is backed by a record of achievement and recognition: African Space Leader Award (2024) – one of only four winners across the continent. Named one of the International Astronautical Federation’s “Promising Space Scientists” for 2025. Currently serving as Ethiopia’s representative at the Space Generation Advisory Council, amplifying Africa’s role in global space policy. She has also expressed gratitude to the global space leaders and mentors who have guided her, including Dr. Mindy Howard, Vladimir Pletser, and William McArthur. Carrying Ethiopia to the Stars For Ethiopia, her selection represents not just an individual accomplishment, but a symbol of scientific progress and national pride. Mehabaw emphasized that she will carry the Ethiopian flag into orbit, ensuring her homeland is represented in the annals of space exploration. As she prepares for the journey, she continues to inspire young Africans with a message of resilience, patience, and purpose: “Patience, resilience, belief, and purpose are the keys. This is proof that even from places where space education is rare, dreams can take you beyond the Earth.”

OKX Kicks Off WLFI Trade & Earn Campaign with Over $520,000 in Rewards

OKX Kicks Off WLFI Trade & Earn Campaign with Over $520,000 in Rewards The WLFI Trade & Earn Campaign is officially LIVE on OKX, giving crypto traders and Web3 enthusiasts a chance to claim a share of more than $520,000 in prizes — including 300,000 $WLFI and 220,000 $USD1. The campaign runs from September 1 – September 16, 2025 (UTC), and rewards will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Here’s How You Can Ape In 1. Trade & Earn $WLFI Deposit and trade $WLFI on OKX to unlock campaign rewards. 2. New User Tasks (Extra Juice) If you’re new to OKX, you get an extra boost: Basic TaskDeposit 100 USDT worth of $WLFI + trade 100 USDT worth of $WLFI👉 Score 10 $USD1 from a 100,000 $USD1 pool(First 10,000 new users only) Advanced TaskDeposit 1,000 USDT worth of $WLFI + trade 1,000 USDT worth of $WLFI👉 Claim 20 $USD1 from a 120,000 $USD1 pool(First 6,000 new users only) 3. Referral Rewards (Stack More WLFI) Want to level up? Invite your friends: Each referral who completes the Basic New User Task = 60 $WLFI straight to you. Maximum 5 referrals = 300 $WLFI.(Total referral pool: 300,000 $WLFI) Why It Matters This isn’t just another promo — OKX is giving traders and Web3 communities a way to: Farm WLFI + USD1 rewards in a limited-time event. Stack tokens early while liquidity grows. Leverage referrals for passive WLFI gains. 📅 Campaign Dates: September 1 – September 16, 2025 (UTC)🚀 Jump in now: okx.com/campaigns/wlfi-trade-and-earn With limited pools and rewards moving fast, it’s all about timing. Don’t sleep on this one.

When Fintech Meets Nation-Building: Chapa’s MyGERD Case Study

When Fintech Meets Nation-Building: Chapa’s MyGERD Case Study On September 9, 2025, Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)—a generational project now recognized as Africa’s largest hydroelectric facility. The ceremony capped more than a decade of construction and domestic fundraising, and it doubled as a testament to the power of citizen mobilization—much of it catalyzed online. The dam’s ultimate nameplate capacity of about 5,150 MW promises to reshape Ethiopia’s energy economy and, potentially, regional trade in power, even as it continues to animate complex Nile diplomacy. This is also a story about infrastructure of a different kind: the rails that move trust, cards, and small acts of solidarity across borders. In 2021, when the government and partners sought a digital front door for diaspora giving, Chapa—then a young fintech—answered the call. The team was given three days to launch an official donation platform. They did, naming it MyGERD—and they learned, the hard way, that building for national moments means building for resilience. A national project, a digital front door The strategy behind MyGERD was deceptively simple: remove friction, increase transparency, and meet Ethiopians wherever they are—on their phones and in their browsers. MyGERD went live in late July 2021 as the official giving platform for GERD, offering campaign pages, progress bars, and a recognizable, centralized brand that embassies, community groups, and individuals could rally behind. The site still bills itself that way today. From the start, the platform’s design decisions reflected the realities of cross-border philanthropy. Diaspora donors are global; cards are ubiquitous; and compliance is non-negotiable. While Chapa moved through Ethiopia’s licensing processes, it partnered with Flutterwave to handle international card processing [—an explicit, documented arrangement in MyGERD’s terms and privacy materials. That legal plumbing—rarely celebrated in press releases—was foundational to MyGERD’s early reliability. Seventy-two hours to ship—and then a 24-hour blackout The first chapter was speed: product definition, payment integration, security reviews, and launch—in 72 hours. The second chapter was pressure: a foreign cyberattack that knocked the platform offline for roughly 24 hours just after launch. In that window, donations stalled, visibility wavered, and the fragility of purpose-built civic tech was laid bare. Recovery meant triage and triage meant people. According to Chapa’s own account, a German cybersecurity expert joined hands with the internal team to stabilize the platform and harden its defenses. The site came back stronger—technically, but also symbolically. With the lights restored, MyGERD settled into a more durable groove as a conduit for the diaspora’s giving. What the data said Early analytics—later distilled by Chapa’s research arm—confirm the breadth of the diaspora’s response. In the platform’s initial phase, donations arrived daily and spanned dozens of countries, with the lion’s share coming from the United States and small-ticket gifts dominating volume. While the precise totals evolved over time, the pattern was unmistakable: a long tail of modest contributions, punctuated by larger gifts, and geographic dispersion that mirrored Ethiopian communities worldwide. Chapa’s team recalls that, cumulatively, “thousands of Ethiopians from 87 countries” gave through MyGERD, summing to millions of dollars over the platform’s life. The exact figure is less important here than the mechanism: by consolidating donor intent into one trustworthy URL, MyGERD turned sporadic grassroots initiatives into a coherent, trackable, and repeatable flow. The partnership equation It is tempting to romanticize heroic sprints and lone-wolf ingenuity. But payment systems are interdependent by design. The MyGERD story underlines three structural realities: Compliance is product. Chapa navigated “a dozen layers of bureaucracy,” and while that slowed pace, it also conferred legitimacy. In parallel, documentation on the site made clear who processed cards and handled taxes. The clarity reduced donor anxiety and simplified troubleshooting. Borrowed scale multiplies impact. By leaning on Flutterwave’s cross-border rails, the platform could accept international cards from day one, meeting donors where they already were. This wasn’t just a technical integration; it was a strategic shortcut through the thicket of global payments. Flutterwave, notably, has built additional Ethiopia-facing remittance ties, underscoring the logic of the pairing. Security is a team sport. The post-attack rebound shows that capability can be rented in moments of crisis—if you’ve cultivated relationships and are transparent about the stakes. GERD’s inauguration, and why it matters to the platform story Yesterday’s ribbon-cutting was about turbines and transformers. But it was also about how Ethiopia funded a $5 billion flagship with heavy domestic participation after external lenders hesitated. Public donations weren’t the largest slice—bonds, state financing, and local banks were pivotal—but they were arguably the most unifying. Diaspora giving, channelled through platforms like MyGERD, mirrored the dam’s narrative arc: self-reliance meets modern coordination. With commissioning complete and generation scaling, the energy story begins in earnest: grid stability, industrialization, and export potential to neighbors eyeing imports—all while diplomatic choreography with Egypt and Sudan continues. Every kilowatt shipped will be read through two lenses: development at home and interdependence on the Nile. Lessons that outlive a campaign From the vantage point of Chapa—and of any builder working at the intersection of civic purpose and financial plumbing—the MyGERD experience distills into three durable maxims: Resilience is built under pressure. Systems that matter will be attacked, overloaded, and misused. The question isn’t if; it’s how quickly you recover and whether your post-mortems produce concrete, testable hardening. The right partnerships multiply impact. In regulated spaces, distribution and compliance are shared assets. Borrowing them is not a compromise; it’s an accelerant. Technology with purpose scales trust. Donors will forgive friction; they will not forgive opacity. A single, authoritative platform—clear about who does what and how money moves—turns ambient goodwill into measurable outcomes. From one product to a philosophy Internally, Chapa frames MyGERD as the company’s first public face—a crucible that forged a cultural stance: relentlessness. Relentless against bureaucracy. Relentless against opposition. Relentless against doubt. That posture now animates a broader mission—to build world-class financial infrastructure for Ethiopia and beyond, long after the last donation receipt has been emailed. If GERD is a symbol of national capacity, MyGERD is a case study in digital capacity: the ability to coordinate at scale, to include the far-flung, and to keep faith with both donors and regulators in the messy middle. The dam will hum for decades; the playbook MyGERD refined—ship fast, secure faster, disclose everything that matters, and partner where it counts—is portable to any initiative where the public stake is high and the financing is diffuse. What comes next With GERD inaugurated, the civic-tech opportunity shifts from fundraising to service enablement: Utility billing and prepay innovations that smooth consumption for households and SMEs. Diaspora investment instruments that go beyond donations—structured vehicles with clear risk/return profiles, digitally subscribed. Open APIs for public projects, allowing independent auditors, media, and community groups to query live progress and financials. Resilience standards—shared threat intelligence and tabletop exercises—so that mission-critical platforms degrade gracefully under attack. None of this is glamorous. All of it is essential. The point, as the Chapa team puts it, is to build things bigger than ourselves—not only monuments of concrete and steel, but also institutions and platforms that earn trust because they work, explain themselves, and improve every time pressure mounts. If yesterday’s celebration belonged to the turbines, today’s reflection belongs to the rails beneath our browsers—and to the builders who keep them humming.

The Dam Builder: The Life, Work, and Tragic Death of Simegnew Bekele

The Dam Builder: The Life, Work, and Tragic Death of Simegnew Bekele I. The Making of an Engineer In Ethiopia’s modern history, few individuals so fully embodied a nation’s aspirations as Simegnew Bekele Aynalem. Born in a quiet farming village and rising to the helm of the continent’s largest hydroelectric project, he became far more than an engineer. For millions, he was a symbol: of technical excellence, of patriotic sacrifice, and of Ethiopia’s audacious ambition to command its natural resources. His life was a testament to meritocratic rise and unyielding public service. His death, sudden and violent, was a shattering reminder of the fragile politics that underlie even the most concrete of national dreams. Simegnew entered the world on September 13, 1964, in Maksegnit, a small town in Gondar. His parents had long awaited a child, and so they named him “Simegnew”—Amharic for “the one I was longing for.” That sense of long-awaited promise would come to define his life. Raised in a rural community where farming and water were the lifeblood, he developed an early reverence for Ethiopia’s most abundant, yet underutilized, resource: its rivers. He pursued education with quiet determination—local schools in Enfranz and Dessie Kidame Gebeya, then Woldia Secondary. Unlike many who left for opportunities abroad, he rooted himself firmly in Ethiopia’s state institutions. In 1986, he received a diploma in Electric Technology from EEPCo, the state power company where he would spend his entire career. Later, he earned a Civil Engineering degree at Addis Ababa University in 1997, returning to EEPCo not only as an engineer but as a mentor, training the next generation. His trajectory was the very model of Ethiopia’s developmental state ethos: a rural son rising through public education to serve his country, rejecting lucrative offers abroad for a lifetime in national service. For the Ethiopia of the 1990s and 2000s, desperate to prove it could develop on its own terms, Simegnew’s story was the national story. II. Taming the Omo River Simegnew’s reputation was forged not on the Nile but in the rugged terrain of the Omo basin. Ethiopia’s “Gibe Cascade”—a series of hydroelectric projects along the Omo River—was the linchpin of the country’s energy strategy. As Deputy Manager of Gilgel Gibe I, commissioned in 2004, he faced the challenge of bringing online a stalled dam plagued by displacement and siltation. It was his first experience of how engineering decisions reverberate through society—disrupting communities, reshaping landscapes. At Gilgel Gibe II, which came online in 2010, his leadership was tested to the extreme. As Project Manager, he oversaw a daring 26-kilometer tunnel through volcanic rock. When it collapsed soon after commissioning—a catastrophic engineering failure—he was thrust into crisis. Managing repairs under the glare of public scrutiny, Simegnew proved himself not just a technician, but a crisis manager. He carried those scars, and those lessons, with him to his greatest challenge: the Nile. III. The Renaissance Man When Ethiopia unveiled plans in 2011 for a massive dam on the Blue Nile, the world took notice. But for Ethiopians, the dam was more than infrastructure—it was redemption. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was christened to signal rebirth, pride, and self-determination. It was to be financed not by foreign donors but by Ethiopians themselves—through bonds, salary deductions, and personal sacrifice. And its face was Simegnew Bekele. Appointed Chief Project Manager, he became both chief engineer and chief storyteller. He traveled the country, explaining the dam to farmers and diplomats alike, reassuring skeptics, countering Egyptian accusations, and rallying Ethiopians with his calm authority. He was admired for his humility: he lived simply, spent long days at the Benishangul-Gumuz site, and worked alongside his teams. Technically, the dam was staggering. A 145-meter-high, 1,780-meter-long roller-compacted concrete colossus, with a reservoir of 74 billion cubic meters and a generation capacity of over 5,000 MW—enough to double Ethiopia’s electricity output. Politically, it was fraught. Egypt, dependent on the Nile for survival, saw it as an existential threat. Negotiations seesawed between hope and hostility. Caught between the geology of the East African Rift and the geopolitics of the Nile Basin, Simegnew bore a unique burden. Every construction delay was not just an engineering setback but a diplomatic flashpoint. Every design choice was freighted with national significance. He was no longer just an engineer; he was the custodian of Ethiopia’s dream and the focus of its anxieties. IV. A Tragic End On the morning of July 26, 2018, Ethiopia awoke to shock. Simegnew was found slumped in his Land Cruiser at Meskel Square, the beating heart of Addis Ababa. The engine was still running. A single bullet had pierced behind his right ear. A pistol lay by his side. Hours later, he had been scheduled to address the nation on the dam’s progress. The police would rule it suicide, citing work pressures, financial strain, and despair over delays. But few Ethiopians believed it. To them, the timing was too suspicious, the inconsistencies too glaring. Conspiracy theories flourished: Was he silenced for knowing too much about corruption? Was it the work of foreign hands, eager to halt the GERD? Or was it a political assassination amid Ethiopia’s shifting power landscape? What was certain was the grief. Tens of thousands lined the streets for his funeral. He was buried in Holy Trinity Cathedral, resting place of emperors and martyrs. The nation wept not only for a man but for what he represented: dignity, progress, and sacrifice. V. Legacy of a Builder Today, as the GERD’s turbines hum and Ethiopia exports its first watts of Renaissance electricity, Simegnew’s presence lingers. The dam he shepherded into being is his monument: a wall of concrete holding back the waters of a continent’s mightiest river. But his legacy is not just physical. It is in the spirit of ownership he instilled in ordinary Ethiopians, who saw in him a man like themselves—humble, hardworking, incorruptible—yet entrusted with a nation’s destiny. For young engineers, he is proof that patriotism and professionalism can coexist. For the public, he is remembered not only as “Chief Engineer” but as a martyr. There is, however, a paradox. The dam he built unified Ethiopia in rare solidarity, yet his death exposed its political fissures. The GERD stands as a testament to what Ethiopians can achieve together. The mystery of Simegnew’s death is a reminder of how fragile that unity remains. In the end, Simegnew Bekele’s story is larger than one man. It is the story of a nation striving to master its destiny—through water, through concrete, through willpower—and the sacrifices demanded along the way. His life was the blueprint; his death, the caution. His dam will outlast both.

Ethiopia Unveils $30 Billion Infrastructure Push, Including Nuclear Plant

Ethiopia Unveils $30 Billion Infrastructure Push, Including Nuclear Plant Addis Ababa — Ethiopia is preparing to launch six large-scale infrastructure projects worth an estimated $30 billion, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a national address, underscoring the government’s push to expand energy production, refine oil domestically, and address urban housing shortages. The initiative includes a nuclear power plant, an oil refinery, a natural gas facility, an airport expansion program, and the construction of 1.5 million housing units over the next six years. Abiy described the program as “the first day of Ethiopia’s recovery,” signaling his administration’s intent to accelerate economic development after years of political instability and fiscal strain. Nuclear Power Plans The centerpiece of the announcement is a nuclear power plant that the prime minister said would be used strictly for peaceful purposes. Ethiopia has recently engaged with the International Atomic Energy Agency, but no technical or financial details were disclosed. A nuclear project would represent a significant shift in Ethiopia’s energy portfolio, which is currently dominated by hydropower. The country is heavily reliant on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric facility, making its grid vulnerable to rainfall variability. Nuclear capacity would provide diversification, though costs, technology transfer, and regulatory hurdles remain uncertain. Refinery and Gas Development Abiy also said construction on a long-discussed oil refinery would begin within weeks. Ethiopia currently imports all refined petroleum products, a key driver of foreign currency outflows. A domestic refinery could reduce import dependence and stabilize fuel supplies, though sourcing crude oil remains a challenge given Ethiopia’s limited proven reserves. In parallel, the government intends to advance a gas processing plant, likely tied to the Ogaden Basin’s underdeveloped reserves. Previous efforts to commercialize natural gas in the region have faced infrastructure gaps and security risks, but Addis Ababa sees potential for future exports through neighboring Djibouti. Airport Expansion and Housing Push The program also includes aviation infrastructure. Ethiopia’s flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, has outgrown the capacity of Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport. Expansion work would align with the government’s earlier proposal for a new mega-airport outside the capital, designed to handle as many as 100 million passengers annually. Urban housing is another focus, with Abiy pledging 1.5 million new homes over six years. Ethiopia faces a severe urban housing deficit, particularly in Addis Ababa, where demand for state-subsidized apartments far exceeds supply. Large-scale construction could ease social pressure but would require sustained financing and a reliable supply of construction materials. Financing Challenges At a combined cost of $30 billion, the projects represent almost a quarter of Ethiopia’s GDP. The government has not disclosed how it plans to finance the program. Analysts expect a mix of external borrowing, public–private partnerships, and possible diaspora financing, modeled after bond sales used to support the GERD. Ethiopia’s fiscal position remains strained. The country is in talks with the International Monetary Fund over a new program, and faces acute foreign exchange shortages and high debt servicing costs. Securing financing for multiple capital-intensive projects at once could prove difficult. Strategic Implications The announcement comes as Ethiopia seeks to stabilize its economy and reassert its regional influence after years of internal conflict. A nuclear power plant would be a first for the Horn of Africa and could elevate Ethiopia’s standing in global energy diplomacy, though it may also draw scrutiny from neighboring states and international partners. For Abiy’s government, the projects serve a dual purpose: positioning Ethiopia for long-term economic growth while also signaling confidence in recovery despite current headwinds. Whether the plans materialize will depend heavily on financing, political consensus, and execution capacity.