- Construction of the 2160MW Koysha hydropower dam in Ethiopia is 39% complete.
- The dam is one of four hydropower projects under construction on Omo River.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr Seleshi Bekele, has announced that construction works at the dam are progressing well. “This project shows how our country Ethiopia is utilizing its water resources for a sustainable development and to improve the livelihoods of its citizens,” he said during a recent visit to the construction site where he was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dr. Vera Songwe.
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Pic: 1870MW Gibe III hydroelectric plant. Credit: SP Engineers
Apart from the Koysha hydropower dam, the two officials also visited the 1870MW Gibe III hydroelectric plant on the same river. Dr Seleshi recently announced plans to fully electrify the country by 2025. More than 65% of Ethiopians have no access to electricity. The country is also building the 6450MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Abay River to drive forward its economy by improving access to electricity. The fourth hydro project is the 184-MW Gilgel Gibe which is upstream from Gibe III.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
