Name of the Project
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Location
The GERD is located on the Abay river, in the Beneshangul Gumuz region of Ethiopia.

Client
Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo).

Project Description
The project envisages a plant with an installed capacity of 6 000 MW that will supply 15 692 GWh/y.

The major components of the project include:
• a 145-m-high, roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dam with a 1 780-m-long crest;
• a rock-filled saddle dam, 4 800 m long and 45 m high, with 24 upstream bituminous facing;
• two outdoor powerhouses of 3 750 MW and 2 250 MW installed capacity, containing ten and six generating units respectively, each with a capacity of 375 MW; and
• a 500 kV switchyard, which will transmit power from the two powerhouses to the grid.

The main dam and saddle dam will create 74-billion cubic metres of impounding capacity, with a surface area of 1 680 km2 at full capacity.

A gated spillway, equipped with six radial gates and a discharge capacity of 14 700 m3/s at probable maximum flood occurrence, will be located on the left side of the main dam.

A saddle dam on the left side of the RCC dam, with an emergency side spillway, is envisaged to allow for flood water discharged directly into the Roseires reservoir.

The construction of 123 km of access roads, as well as camps, workshops and other civil works, form part of the activities for the project.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Value
The project is valued at an estimated $4.8-billion.

Duration
The project is expected to take 78 months.

Latest Developments
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will establish a scientific study group to consult on the filling of the reservoir behind GERD, according to the Associated Press. The team is expected to conclude the study within three months after its establishment, Ethiopian News Agency has reported.

This was the result of the second Tripartite High Level Ministerial Meeting of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt on the GERD that opened May 15 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Participants were Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Sudanese Acting Foreign Minister Al-Dierdiry al-Dhikheri and Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry.

According to Africanews the three countries have agreed to establish the Tripartite Infrastructure Fund to deal with issues relating to GERD, among others. The leaders will meet every six months.

GERD has been under construction on the Blue Nile river, in Ethiopia, since 2011 and is reportedly about two-thirds complete. However, downstream countries Sudan and Egypt are concerned that the rate at which Ethiopia proposes to fill the reservoir might cause water shortages.
 

This meeting follows the results of the first tripartite meeting, which was held in Khartoum on April 4 and concluded without clear resolution. Additionally, the Tripartite National Committee met on May 5, in Addis Ababa. However, it was was unable to make progress on the adoption of the draft incipient report of the consultant, which Egypt approved, where the completion of studies on determining the potential negative effects of the dam on the two downstream countries and how to avoid them was not approved.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Salini Costruttori, a subsidiary of Salini Impregilo (construction contract) and Alstom (turbine and generators).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
EEPCo, tel +251 11 1 55 95 67, fax +251 11 1 57 1860 or email eepcocommunication@yahoo.com.