PMFORUM Breaking News

Reported by Getachew Teklemariam in Addis Ababa

An unprecedented landslide has caused a cost overrun estimated of 400 million Birr on the 2 billion Birr Tekeze Hydropower project in Ethiopia. The hydropower project that is being built on the river Tekeze, northern Ethiopia, which was destined to be resuming generating power by 2007, has faced a landslide from the nearby mountain.

The project that was sponsored by the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo), which is a sole electricity providing government agency, and being contracted out to Chinese National Water Resource and Hydropower Engineering Corporation (CWHEC), the Chinese giant in hydropower projects, was meant to cost 2 billion Birr. Nevertheless, the construction of a restraining wall in order to prevent the unprecedented sliding of the nearby mountain, not felt in the feasibility study of the project, has required an extra 400 million Birr (15 % of the total project cost).

The manger of EEPCo Ato Mihrete Debebe (pictured), has said to the capital (Sunday April 6, 2008 issue) that “ the construction of the restraining wall is being undertaken 24 hours a day to complete the project on time to commission the plant before the current Ethiopian year”

Even though EEPCo is undertaking other power projects like Gilgel Gibe II, Beles, Fincha, Amerti Neshi, and Gilgel Gibe III, the increase in electricity demand in the country which has grown by 12 percent in 2007 could not be in compliance with the rate of growth of electricity production in the country. Yet, with the completion of all the undergoing projects, it is aimed to raise the electricity production capacity of the country to 3270 MW.

EEPCo is a government agency responsible for planning and managing power projects in Ethiopia with a current geographic coverage of 22 percent and with the annual connection of 350,000 customers by 2007. More on EEPCo can be found on www.EEPCo.gov.et.

Getachew Teklemariam Alemu International Correspondent - Ethiopia Getachew Teklemariam Alemu is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Mr. Alemu is also an Infrastructure Projects Expert in the Development Projects Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, government of Ethiopia.  Getachew is responsible for monitoring, appraising and reporting on public sector infrastructure projects financed by the Ethiopian government and bilateral/multilateral donor agencies.  He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection from Mekelle University in Ethiopia.  More information about Getachew Teklemariam can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5.  Getachew can be contacted at getdem2006@yahoo.com.