Ethiopian Gibe III hydroelectric project begins operation

• 8 years ago (2015-10-15)

Europe 1061

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The project, built at a cost of $1.8 billion, consists of a roller-compacted concrete dam 797 feet (243 metres) high, a reservoir with the potential to hold 14 700 million m ³ of water and a powerhouse that houses 10 Francis turbines. It is also the third plant on the Bige-Omo hydroelectric cascade along with the 184 MW Gigel Gibe I and the 420 MW Gigel Gibe II.

However, environmental protestors have been campaigning against Gibe III, as the Omo river fills lake Turkana. Campaigners say that as the reservoir fills, flow to the lake will be reduced and could threaten the livelihoods of up to 300 000 people.

Nevertheless, the Ethiopian government has said that it plans to build two additional facilities on the Omo river: the 1450 Gibe IV and the 600 MW Gibe V.

According to Ethiopia’s Cabinet Affairs Minister, Alemayuhu Tegenu, Gibe III will increase Ethiopia’s power generation capacity by 324 per cent.