subject: Ethiopia To Get Super Dam [print this page] In order to meet its energy shortage, Ethiopia is going on a dam building frenzy. Ethiopia"s multibillion pound project is intended to end the country"s energy shortage by building huge dams on many of the rivers that flow from Ethiopia"s highlands.
Italian and Chinese construction firms are building these dams, which Ethiopia is hoping will increase its power generation capacity. The plan is not to just supply its own citizens with power, but for Ethiopia to become a major exporter of electricity to other countries. Already transmission lines are being built to Djibouti and Sudan. Ethiopia has signed a supply agreement with Kenya.
Ethiopia has plans on making electricity its most valuable export. Plans under discussion include connecting to Egypt, Europe, and Southern Africa.
Ethiopia Electric Power Corporation"s Abdulhakim Mohammed said building dams is a necessity for developing countries. The country has dozens of river basins with the potential for generating 45,000MW.
There are 80 million Ethiopians, most of whom live in rural areas. Only 2% of them have electricity. The capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa has had problems with blackouts. Both the country"s economy and population are growing, with the demand for electricity rising 25% a year.
Environmental groups, worldwide, are concerned about the size and the speed that Ethiopia is developing these hydro projects. They cite the lack of good assessment studies on the impact of these projects.
One of the more controversial dams, being built is the Giba III hydro electric dam across the Omo River. The Giba III dam will be 243 metres high, making it the tallest dam in Africa. Its generating capacity will be 1,870MW. This would be double, what Ethiopia had last year. The reservoir that Giba III will create will be 93 miles, reaching to the Giba II Power plant.
Environmental groups, like International Rivers and Survival International are working to stop the construction of the dam. The effects for tribes downstream, from the dam, on their social and economic life could be disastrous. A campaigner for International Rivers, Terri Hathaway said the project is unnecessary and destructive.
The dam will end Omo"s natural flood cycle and reduce the water level of Lake Turkana. For centuries herders and farmers have relied on this natural cycle.
Funding remains an issue with the project. Ethiopia awarded the Giba III contract to the Italian firm without having all the financing finalized. No environmental impact studies were done, nor were communities downstream consulted on the project. This lack of transparency has prevented lenders like the World Bank from being involved in the project.
To avoid environmental groups and stopping the efforts of Ethiopia from getting funding, the country is turning to the Chinese. Sinohydro, a Chinese company will build Giba IV, further down the Omo.
