Yesterday, Chief Project Manager of the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) Engineer Kifle Horo said that the construction of GERD’s saddle dam has been brought to a successful completion with high quality. The saddle-shaped dam is part of the bigger GERD and it was built to store the desired 74 billion cubic meters of water. This is undoubtedly the fruitful accomplishment as it has met the expected eminence and standard.
Most importantly, besides its crucial importance to accumulate the desired level of water and power generation, the construction of the dam has been carried out precisely so as to prevent water permeation in a meritorious manner. Being filled with a 5.2 kilo meter concrete along with a 50-meter height and a 14 million cubic meters stone concrete, it achieved high standard due to the technology. Unquestionably, the construction has become the reflection of high quality as the civil work this saddle dam was carried out by an Italian industrial group Salini Impregilo that is specialized in the construction and civil engineering business.
Moreover, the secret of the high quality of the construction is proportionately related to Ethiopia’s wise decision to employs internationally acclaimed institute and multinational contractors and construction consultants to design the
dam as a showcasing the project. And the recent relentless commitment demonstrated by the government and the people of Ethiopia became the other reason to ensure the quality construction.
Though there were some expected challenges that tried to impose certain inconsistencies on the progress of the construction, the current status along with its desired quality has been considered to be fruitful achievement.
In connection to this, the current unyielding public participation accompanied with high sense of belongingness is the prudent indication that the nation will soon bring the entire project to fruitful ending. Most interestingly, recent challenges that were planned to impede the progress the construction have astonishingly encouraged Ethiopians to increase their commitment and participation to complete the GERD as those challenges seemed to stand against the sovereignty of the nation.
In short, the Saddle Dam of GERD has not only got completion but also it has achieved high quality which is the greatest indication that the nation will soon bring the whole project to successful accomplishment.
The Ethiopian Herald April 28/2020
