ETHIOPIA: New dam opened that will produce 420 MW of hydropower as part of ongoing efforts to beat energy shortages

Record ID: 588935

  • Title: ETHIOPIA: New dam opened that will produce 420 MW of hydropower as part of ongoing efforts to beat energy shortages
  • Date: 14th January 2010
  • Summary: OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA (JANUARY 13, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE VIEW OF GIBE II HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT VIEW OF POWER HOUSE WITH ETHIOPIAN, ITALIAN AND EUROPEAN UNION FLAGS SIGN OF THE PROJECT READING 'GILGLE GIBE 2 HYDRO POWER PLANT' BRASS BAND PERFORMING ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI ARRIVING AT SITE DIGNITARIES SEATED INSIDE HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI, SAYING: "This project in the short term will contribute to solving power cuts that occurred in Ethiopia last year. In the long term, it would help meet the power demands of Ethiopia and those of neighbouring countries by making use of a clean energy supply. This plant shows that we are on the right path." VARIOUS OF DIGNITARIES LISTENING TO SPEECHES (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANCO FRATTINI, ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "This is probably one of the first and best examples translating into action our decision to help developing countries to produce clean energy like hydroelectric power. This is the example translated in to action." MORE OF DIGNITARIES LISTENING TO SPEECHES (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) ALEMAYEHU TEGENU, ETHIOPIAN MINISTER OF MINES AND ENERGY, SAYING: "This hydroelectric power plant is the largest of all plants inaugurated in the country. It is so unique as it has no dam of its own. It uses a cascade of water diverted from the Gilgel Gibe I. Inauguration of the plant will help meet the different developmental goals of the government." ZENAWI LAUNCHING POWER PLANT MACHINERY AT WORK ZENAWI AND FRATTINI CUTTING RIBBON VARIOUS OF OFFICIAL TOUR OF PLANT WATER OUTLET FROM THE PLANT PROJECTION SCREEN SHOWING VIDEO OF TUNNEL DIGGING / WORKERS CELEBRATING
  • Embargoed: 29th January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ethiopia
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA1NTM9GI3RZ1RGRBVT2EAM61YL
  • Story Text: Ethiopia opened a dam on Wednesday (January 13) which it says will produce 420 MW of hydropower as part of efforts to beat energy shortages and become one of Africa's only power exporters, its power utility said.
    The dam took five years to complete and cost about 370 million euros ($538 million U.S. dollars), the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation said.
    "This project in the short term will contribute to solving power cuts that occurred in Ethiopia last year. In the long term, it would help meet the power demands of Ethiopia and those of neighbouring countries by making use of a clean energy supply," said Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
    The Italian government covered 220 million euros ($318 million USD) of the cost with Ethiopia paying the rest.
    Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini attended the opening while on his tour of Africa. Italy's Salini Costruttori led the construction of the dam.
    "This is probably one of the first and best examples translating into action our decision to help developing countries to produce clean energy like hydroelectric power. This is the example translated in to action," Frattini said.
    Ethiopia has five other hydropower dam projects being built, some funded by the World Bank.
    The new dam brings the power-generating capacity in Africa's second most populous country to almost 2,000 MW.
    Ethiopia's mines and energy minister, Alemayehu Tegen, told Reuters in November the country would complete interconnection infrastructure between Ethiopia and Sudan and Ethiopia and Djibouti by the end of 2010 and become a power exporter.
    He said Ethiopia aimed to produce 15,000 MW of power within 10 years.
    "Inauguration of the plant will help meet the different developmental goals of the government," Tegen told dignitaries at the opening ceremony.
    Ethiopia plans to spend 12 billion U.S. dollars over 25 years to improve its power-generating capabilities.
    Power shortages are common in Africa and have hindered investment, even though the continent has abundant potential resources of solar, hydro, oil, gas, coal and geothermal power.
    Ethiopia rationed power for over five months last year with lights going off every second day, closing factories, hampering exports and fuelling a shortage of hard currency.
    Power demand in Africa is expected to rise by 150,000 MW between 2007 and 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.
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