The head of the Maintenance Department at the Koka Hydropower Plant, Mr. Yafet Tesfaye, announced that dam safety and monitoring activities are being actively conducted in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season.
While the rainfall during the wet season is crucial for power generation, Mr. Yafet emphasized that without proper precautionary measures, the increased water volume could pose serious risks to the dam’s structural integrity and safe operation.
He noted that factors such as aging infrastructure—leading to cracks—as well as the presence of water hyacinth and silt buildup, can significantly undermine dam safety and efficiency during the rainy season.
To address these challenges, comprehensive inspections, maintenance, and monitoring operations are currently underway. These include work on key structures such as water inlets, spillways, and various other critical components of the dam. Spillways and control gates are being repaired, and their metal parts are being treated to prevent rust and ensure they are fully operational.
Cracks identified in the upper part of the dam are also being filled to prevent further deterioration. According to Mr. Yafet, these preventive measures are essential for ensuring the gates function properly to release excess water and that breakers operate effectively under high water pressure.
He further explained that carrying out these inspections and repairs before the dam reaches full capacity reduces the need for emergency maintenance on gates, motors, breakers, and other essential equipment during the peak of the rainy season.
Beyond maintaining operational efficiency, these safety efforts also play a vital role in safeguarding downstream communities from potential flood hazards. Ensuring proper dam function directly contributes to the consistent and safe generation of electric power.
In parallel with the structural maintenance, efforts are also being made to remove the rapidly spreading water hyacinth from the dam’s artificial reservoir. This task is being undertaken with the involvement of multiple stakeholders to ensure it is completed before the rains begin.
The Koka Hydropower Plant has been serving Ethiopia since 1952 E.C. and remains a critical part of the nation’s power infrastructure.
