GERD project 78.3% complete: Minister

Addis Ababa, February 5, 2021 (FBC) –The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has reached 78.3% completion, said the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy.

Some 91% of civil works on the dam has also been completed, Dr Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy said while briefing journalists about his Ministry’s six-month performance today.

He added efforts will be made in the next months to carry out second round filling of the dam.

He further said 7 billion birr was generated from electric power export  to neighboring countries and sale of used equipment in the reported period.

According to him, the ministry has also been executing 15 substitution works to generate electricity from geothermal, solar and hydro power.

With respect to water, he stated that the ministry has managed to provide clean water for 1.4 million people across the country during the past 6 months, according to ENA.

The ministry has also executed 13 projects that irrigate a total of 137,000 hectares of land  during the same period in the fiscal year.