Largest hydropower project in Africa to be fully operational by 2023

The largest hydropower project in Africa, is set to be operational by 2023. Ethiopia’s Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy Eng. Seleshi Bekele revealed the report and said that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will be operational as per the reschedule.

The minister said that the news follows following the successful completion of the first round filling, second filling is going to be held during the coming rainy season-on July 2021. According to him, construction of GERD has reached 78.3% and it is expected to be completed up to 82% until the upcoming rainy season.

“Ethiopia is keenly working on completing the construction of GERD by 2023 and considering the dam as water security threat is unfounded and unscientific. The overall construction of the dam has seen rapid development following the swift measures taken by the reformist administration to ensure professionalism. The administrative adjustments have solved the most critical problems related to decision making and follow-up system,” said Eng. Seleshi Bekele.

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Africa’s biggest power exporter

The minister further added that, the new administration and the board jointly with the Ministry and Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) have solved the factors that led for the delay of the construction before the reform in 2018. Solving the major problems, undertaking continuous follow-up, assessment and evaluation has enabled the country to return the process of the construction of the massive power plant on the right truck.

The GERD project has been under construction since 2011. It is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, about 15 km (9 mi) east of the border with Sudan. It is expected to produce 6,000-megawat which will be the centerpiece of Ethiopia’s bid to become Africa’s biggest power exporter.  GE Alstom, a US-French joint venture was previously awarded US $61m to install and commission the six turbine units. Two are being finalized to help early generation of 750MW.