Ethiopia is on track to complete mega dam projects towards enhancing its role on the East African Power market according to Alemayhu Tegenu, State Minister.
The primary dam, the 4.1 billion US dollar Grand Renaissance Dam is on track for completion by the 2015 deadline he said.
Two other smaller dams are also expected to launch operations at the same time to generate a combined 8 thousand Mega Watts at full capacity explained Alemayhu.
Thirteen percent of the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam is already completed according to the Energy Minister.The Minister’s response addresses concerns raised by some experts who suggest that the country may find it challenging to finance the Grand Renaissnace Dam.
More than 277.1 million US dollars have been raised for the construction of the dam to date from internal sources said Alemahyu speaking at the energy conference being held in Addis Ababa.The Ethiopian government has chosen to finance the project internally from the people, government budget and power utility payments he explained.
Another major hydro power project that the government hopes to complete is the Gilgel Gibe III dam which is expected to complete in 2013 at a total cost of 1.8 billion US dollars. This dam is 65 percent complete noted Alemayhu.
Source: Reuters
