Ethiopia, Kenya set to profit from €1.4-B, 1,870-MW Gibe III hydroelectric project

Ethiopia and Kenya will mutually benefit from the €1.4-billion, 1,870-megawatt Gibe III hydroelectric project in the
southwest Ethiopian river of Gilgel Gibe.

Ethiopia and Kenya’s positions of mutually benefiting from a €1.4-billion, 1,870-megawatt hydroelectric project was the subject of a consultative meeting last Wednesday (June 3) at the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa between leaders of both African countries. Called the Gibe III hydroelectric project, construction of the said project in the southwest Ethiopian river of Gilgel Gibe started as early as July 2006 after the agreement was signed between the utility Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) and the Italian construction firm Salini Construttori. To date, one-third of Gibe III has been completed and operations are expected to begin by July 2013.

Kenyan Water Resource director and Delegation Head John Rao Nyaoro guaranteed his country’s support for the project, especially as water resource minister Asfaw Dingamo pointed out that Ethiopia and Kenya’s ties stretch from various aspects such as economic, cultural, security, and resource management.

Dingamo further said that the project will ensure the supply of clean renewable energy for both countries while helping mitigate drought. Flood control, climate change adaptation, and environmental services are some other benefits that the project is expected to boost upon completion, according to Dingamo.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s exportation of power from the project through regional and sub-regional interconnection systems was raised by EEPCo general manager Mihret Debebe, stressing that such a move would promote regional economic integration.


-  Jen Balboa

Sources:

¹ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/et-lgflag.gif
² https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/ke-lgflag.gif
³ http://ena.gov.et/EnglishNews/2009/Jun/03Jun09/89023.htm
⁴ http://www.eepco.gov.et/