• Two turbines to go operational in two years
ADDIS ABABA –Ethiopians have continued their support as the country is striving to finalize the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), said Office of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation.
Office Deputy Director Tegel Kenubih told The Ethiopian Herald that since the Dam’s construction commencement, Ethiopians have shown strong commitment to finalize the flagship project. “Despite the claim that it has shown a decline since recently, the public is still actively supporting the Dam. This fiscal year, it has contributed more than 484 million Birr to the construction through various schemes,” he noted.
Recently, the government has reached contractual agreements with five international companies- CGGC, Sino Hydro, Voith, GE Hydro France, and XD to resume electromechanical and steel structure works and solve related problems, he noted. According to the Director, it is estimated that 125 to 130 billion Birr is required to finalize the construction of GERD, out of which 15-20 percent is expected to come from the public.
The Office has also announced that out of the 16 turbines the Dam will have, two will go operational in two years and will generate 750 MW of power. So far, 66.2 percent of the construction has been completed. The Project is expected to be finalized in four years. So far, the public has contributed 12.4 percent of the more than 98 billion Birr spent on the construction of the Dam.
As to documents, Ethiopia has 12 river basins with an annual runoff water volume of 122 billion m3 . It is believed that the country has a total volume of 109 billion cubic meters of surface and about 2.6 billion cubic meters of ground water. However, only about 3 percent of these water resources are used so far and only 2 percent of the population has access to it.
According to the Director, it is estimated that 125 to 130 billion Birr is required to finalize the construction of GERD, out of which 15-20 percent is expected to come from the public. The Office has also announced that out of the 16 turbines the Dam will have, two will go operational in two years and will generate 750 MW of power.
So far, 66.2 percent of the construction has been completed. The Project is expected to be finalized in four years. So far, the public has contributed 12.4 percent of the more than 98 billion Birr spent on the construction of the Dam. As to documents, Ethiopia has 12 river basins with an annual runoff water volume of 122 billion m3 .
It is believed that the country has a total volume of 109 billion cubic meters of surface and about 2.6 billion cubic meters of ground water. However, only about 3 percent of these water resources are used so far and only 2 percent of the population has access to it.
The Ethiopian Herald April 25/2019
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
