The Eastern Ethiopia Electric Grid Strengthening Project Office announced that the Harar IV 400 KV substation project is ready to commence.
Mr. Mekonen Alemu, the project office’s site representative, declared that the land measurement and plant enumeration had already been completed in order to compensate the farmers who own the area where the project is located.
He noted that in order to compensate 40 local residents whose possession would be necessary for the project and set it for construction, in-depth discussions have been carried out with the relevant regional, district, and local governments.
Legal and environmental studies experts from the organization have been present at the site to monitor the amount of compensation offered to the institution based on the decree, he said.
According to the representative, discussions have been held with the region’s urban development and construction office and establish the committees to foster the compensation process.
There are questions related to the master plan on the project site and said that the matter is being reviewed by the regional council and work is being done to make a decision, he noted.
Ato Feti Hussain, the urban renewal and redevelopment team leader at the Harari National Regional Government’s Urban Development and Construction Bureau, said that the project will great benefit in providing reliable power to industries which will be built in the city and its surroundings.
He reminded that prior to the project commencement, relevant committees from the district and regional administrations had been monitoring the circumstances in order to ensure the farmers to received the right compensation.
He clarified that the requirement for the estimation procedure to be updated every two years in accordance with the criteria for compensation settlement has caused a delay.
Currently, the bank account, land ownership deed, final compensation estimation, and related issues are being completed in order to pay farmers their dues.
The proposed Harar IV 400 KV substation project will be constructed in Kali Kebele, 15 kilometers outside the city of Harar.
The project will be financed by the African Development Bank and will have great benefit in strengthening the Eastern Ethiopia Electricity grid.
