File Photo: GERD of Ethiopia. Photo: AFP
"This will be recorded as a proud history of Ethiopia," he said, according to the Ethiopian News Agency.
PM Ahmed added that the project represents a triumph in overcoming economic pressures through self-sufficiency and collective effort.
During a parliamentary Q&A session, Ahmed asserted that his government had fulfilled its promises as the GERD's filling had not caused water shortages in Egypt's High Dam.
He added that Ethiopia would engage in diplomatic discussions regarding the GERD to safeguard the interests of downstream nations.
The multi-billion dollar GERD, which has been under construction on the Nile River since 2010, has long been a source of regional dispute with Cairo and Khartoum.
Addis Ababa deems the project essential for producing electricity and economic development.
Although Cairo and Khartoum have never expressed any opposition to the Ethiopian development goals, they have sought a legally binding deal on the filling and operation of the dam as per international law and the principles governing transnational watercourses.
However, between 2020 and 2024, Ethiopia unilaterally completed the five-phase filling of the dam, bringing two turbines into operation, despite the absence of an agreement with downstream nations.
Egypt, which relies on the Nile River for 97 percent of its water needs, fears that the GERD will harm its already scarce water supply.
Similarly, Sudan is concerned about the impact of Ethiopia's unilateral actions on the safety of its dams.
A decade of on-off negotiations between the downstream nations and Ethiopia has failed to produce an agreement that ensures their water security and dam safety while addressing Ethiopia's interests.
In December 2023, Cairo announced the end of the GERD negotiations track due to Ethiopia's persistent rejection of any proposed technical or legal solutions.
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