Engineer Kifle Horo, the project manager of GERD, announced that the concrete filling for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has reached 99.2 percent completion.
A panel discussion was convened to mark the 13th anniversary of the commencement of the dam’s construction, with the theme “Achieving Together.”
During the panel discussion, Engineer Kifle Horo disclosed that 10.65 million cubic meters of concrete filling have been completed out of the total 10.7 million cubic meters required.
He emphasized that the civil construction of the dam is nearly completed, reaching 99.2 percent completion, while the electro-mechanical works have progressed to 79 percent.
Engineer Kifle also noted that 90 percent of the hydraulic steel structure works have been accomplished.
As of February 2024 EFY, the project’s total financial expenditure had reached 191.3 billion birr, with an additional 50 billion birr needed to complete the remaining construction tasks.
He highlighted the challenges faced during the project, including contract amendments, tight schedules, encountering lime stone at the dam’s base, and insufficient experience, quality, and scale.
To address these challenges, a structural change has been implemented, shifting leadership from the Ethiopian Electric Power Board to the project office.
Ambassador Reta Alemu, Director General of International Law Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized diplomatic efforts to underscore the dam’s critical importance for survival, rather than solely focusing on expediting its construction.
He stressed the necessity of strong diplomatic efforts to safeguard national interests regarding transboundary rivers, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Mrs. Fikirte Tamer, Deputy Director General of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Public Participation Coordination Project Office, highlighted the inclusive nature of the project’s construction, involving the participation of all Ethiopians and receiving government support and oversight.
She mentioned that over the past 13 years, more than 19 billion birr have been contributed by the Ethiopian people towards the project’s construction.
