Ethiopia to Build 4 Dams on Nile River

Thursday, 30 June 2011

Country plans to generate 11,000 MW

Ethiopia is preparing to build four hydro electric power dams on the Nile River as it plans to export electric power to its neighbouring countries.One of the dams is expected to generate 5,250 megawatts (MW) of electricity when it is operational.Studies show that the four dams together will have the capacity to generate about 11,000 MW of electricity, Simegenew Bekele, project manager of the Nile River dam project, said.Work on the four dams is scheduled to begin in 2015 after the completion of the 3.3 billion euro Great Renaissance Dam.Salini, an Italian construction company, has been commissioned to construct the dam.Work is on progress with no geological and geographical challenges, everything is going on as scheduled, Simegenew said. Work is also underway to divert the water for the construction of the Renaissance Dam.Ethiopia has entered into agreements Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti to supply them with electricity. The country is ready to start supplies to Sudan in July.Ethiopia has already started exporting power to Djibouti and Kenya.Construction of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will be completed in 2015.Source: The Africa ReportLast Updated ( Thursday, 30 June 2011 13:48 )