Ethiopian Electric Power Board Members Visit GERD Project

By:Fanabc

Members of the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) have visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project.

It is the board’s first visit after the electro-mechanical and metal works of the project were awarded to different contractors.

The objective of the visit is to evaluate the progress of the project, discuss with contractors, and outline future plan of the hydropower project being built in Benishangul Gumuz regional state.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EEP Dr Abrham Belay, together with General Manager of the project, Engineer Kifle Horo provided a detailed explanation about the project to the visiting team.

Members of the board also held discussion with contractors on the progress of works on the two turbines that could begin producing electricity in 2020.

Last month, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy announced the completion of construction of the saddle dam of the project.

The completion of the 50m high and 5.2km long concrete faced rockfill dam (CRFD) is an important milestone for the project, said Dr Engineer Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy.

The ancillary work to the CFRD such as grouting and finishing works on audits will be finalized soon, the Minister said.

Once completed in 2023, GERD will be the largest dam in Africa.