Ethiopia Grand Dam could face 4-year delay

Possible defects in electro-mechanical work could add four more years to the construction schedule of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Officials said that a “grave mistake” had been made in appointing the military-run company – Metal and Engineering Corporation (Metec) – which has led to major problems, Reuters reported.

The officials said that Metec was handed a $853 million contract in 2011 to install turbines and other electrical and mechanical work under the dam’s main contractor – Italy’s Salini Impregilo. However, Metec was fired from the project in August over delays, following complaints from Salini Impregilo.

The former chairman of Metec was also sent to prison along with other officials over corruption and graft charges.

Discussing today’s announcement of potential delays, the dam’s construction manager Kifle Hora told Associated Press (AP): “We have a plan to generate power from the first two units within the coming two years and then probably the dam will be completed in the year 2022.”

In 2011, Ethiopia announced the GERD and said it would be completed within five years, but this has not been fulfilled yet.

Read: Egypt, Ethiopia to resume talks on Renaissance Dam