BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
Ten years ago, Ethiopia, breaking the rhetoric of “the impossible”, and deciding to generate electric power for over 65 million Ethiopians who are suffering in darkness and lessen their burden, announced plan to develop its water resources and to construct the largest hydro-dam in Africa on its river, Abay River,
The country, disproving the deep attached assumption of “they cannot perform it”, laid the foundations of the Abay hydro-Dam in April 2011, which is an emblem of Ethiopians’ persistence and unity, and a pride for African people.
Beyond daring to construct the largest African hydro dam on the Abay hydro-River, a matter that has stunned many of the developed nations and left with confusion plus compelled them to consider it as a joke was the costs of the construction is being fully covered by Ethiopians.
Imagine a poor country, like Ethiopia, most of its development projects are supported by international donors to set a plan to construct a dam that costs a great deal of capital. And that was one of the issues which led many of the developed countries causing raised eyebrows.
However, thanks to Ethiopians living at home and Ethiopians in the Diaspora, currently, the construction of the dam is moving smoothly and accordingly. And for Ethiopians who have been watching the river for centuries with the feeling of discontent; and yearning to see it dammed up in a manner benefitting the people of Ethiopia, the successful completion of the dam is a great success.
Of course, not only for Ethiopians and Ethiopian friends, but it is also a pride for most of African countries that are dependent on development partners and they think that their economic growth and developmental success are impossible without the interferences and support of westerners.
And the successful completion of the construction of the Abay hydro-Dam is an undertaking that Africans proud of it, their source of inspiration and a project that they can draw an important lesson- from country’s commitment and persistence.
Especially, the dam is being constructed with own capital, without the support of global financial institutions and donors, will have special message to Africans. What is more, the way Ethiopians mobilize resources, their commitment and persistence to construct such a huge dam will also create “Yes, we can do” spirit on them and initiate them to do the better.
The resource mobilization efforts of the government of Ethiopia and the commitment of Ethiopians to build and finalize the construction of the Abay hydro-Dam has set an example for Africa, said Ugandan and Congolese scholars.
In an exclusive interview with local media, Makerere University Associate Professor, Kasaija Phillip Apuuli said that, the way Ethiopia managed to collect funds for the construction of the dam internally and abroad without the assistance of international financial institutions is a good model that Africans can pick.
Nile Basin countries should learn from this example in terms of local resources mobilization, he added.
According to him, Ethiopia’s local resources mobilization model is a new approach that helps to solve the dire financial needs of African countries for vital infrastructural projects.
“It is a very good feat of engineering, and once completed it will be the biggest dam in Africa,” he noted, adding that “if projects like this are replicated in Africa 10 times, I think much of Africa can be powered,” he opined.
The scholar pointed out that the dam is also an example of equitable utilization of Trans-boundary Rivers as it proves equitable utilization.
“The water is flowing naturally from the dam. There is no blockage of the water and I think the Egyptians should rethink what they are talking about,” Associate Professor Apuuli stressed.
Since equitable utilization means that you can use the resources and pay due regard to others, the water impounded behind the dam only hit the turbine and continues its flow for other countries to benefit, he elaborated.
The scholar noted that, they call Africa a dark continent “partly because we do not have enough power. But by generating over 5000 MW, the Abay hydro-Dam can light half of the continent.”
The Congolese Engineer, Robert Amini Bitakuya said on his part that what Africans can learn from this project is how to self-finance such vital projects from local resources.
The way Ethiopia managed to finance such a huge dam with local resources align with the idea that there are “African solutions to African problems,” the Engineer stated.
“I am very impressed by this dam which is a very impressive structure. It is a great achievement for Ethiopia and for Africa because this infrastructure will deliver power that will be supplied in much of East Africa,” the Engineer remarked.
According to Bitakuya, the scale and the magnitude of this project is something that can be seen as an African pride.
“I do believe that the Abay hydro-Dam is an African project because this dam will give power to more than three important countries in Eastern Africa. This is what we are looking at when we talk about integration.”
The scholar added that, there should therefore be a way to fairly share the water so that all our people could benefit.
True, the construction of the dam aside from giving relief to millions of Ethiopians who are languishing in excruciating darkness for centuries, it would have significant benefits to countries of the Horn and beyond.
As it is stated repeatedly by the Ethiopian Government, Ethiopia has no intention to cause harm on the downstream countries, including Egypt and Sudan, except giving relief to its people who are suffering from darkness and promoting its development activities. Most importantly, Ethiopia believes in and is committed to equitable and reasonable utilization of the resource. In this regard, the Abay hydro-Dam would have substantial benefit in terms of promoting regional development by connecting countries with electric power.
Currently, the construction of the dam is reaching to its finishing point and upon its completion; it would be Africa’s largest dam.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2022
