The construction of Zarima-Mayday Dam has reached 42 percent, Welkayit Sugar Development Project Office disclosed.

Kassahun Mehari, Manager of the project told Walta Information Center (WIC) that the dam is the first of its kind in Ethiopia because it is being built by asphalt concrete.

Sur Construction Company is undertaking the construction of the Dam and it is expected to be completed in the coming two years. The dam is 155 meters high and 568 meter wide. Kassahun stated it will have a capacity to hold back 3.6 billion cubic meter of water. In addition, the dam would develop sugarcane plantation on 50 thousand hectares of land.

According to kassahun, the dam is expected to become a manmade lake which creates a fertile ground for fishing and maintain the ecological balance of the area.

In order to share experience and ensure technology transfer, Sur has subcontracted parts of its work to Chinese Construction Company, the project Manager said.

Thus far, the construction of the dam has created 1,600 job opportunities, Kassahun noted.

The construction of the dam and the intake canal costs 12.5 billion Birr, Kassahun told WIC.

Source: Walta Information Center