Addis Ababa, December 19 (WIC) – Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the main programs and projects which were incorporated in the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) are well in progress.
The premier said the programs and projects which reflect the common aspiration of Ethiopian people are making good progress within scheduled time frame.
PM Meles was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Fincha’a-Amerti-Neshe (FAN) hydroelectric plant located 300km north-west of Addis Ababa in Oromia state.
With 97 MW power generation capacity, Fincha’a-Amerti-Neshe (FAN) is an over 138 million US dollars multipurpose project on the Neshe river, which is one the tributaries of the Blue Nile river.
“FAN is one of the projects that the government designed for implementation on the Nile Basin. It is unique as it is a multipurpose project for the combined benefits of hydropower generation and irrigation development,” PM Meles said.
In addition to power generation, FAN was designed for irrigation development of 6,000 hectares of land for sugar cane plantation for Finch Sugar factory, which is currently under expansion, the premier said.
PM Meles said besides the expansion works of existing sugar factories, the plan set to build 10 new factories in the five-year GTP are going well.
“In the five-year GTP, Ethiopia envisaged boosting the power generation capacity of the nation to 10,000 MW and to achieve this plan, the implementation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which has the capacity to generate at least 5,250 MW and Gibe-III hydroelectric power project, which has the capacity to generate 1,800 MW are well underway,” he said.
PM Meles also hailed the determination and financial contribution being made by Ethiopians domiciling at home and abroad for the successfully implementation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The premier also urged pertinent bodies to coordinate efforts of the Ethiopians who are keen to see the completion of the dam within the scheduled time frame.
PM Meles finally extended his gratitude for the government of China for providing financial support to the project.
Some 85 percent of the project cost was financed by the Chinese government and the balance was covered by the government of Ethiopia, it was noted.
Water and Energy Minister, Alemayehu Tegenue, on his part said that FAN project would help raise sugarcane development capacity of Fincha Sugar factory to 20,000 hectares from the existing 14,000 hectares.
In addition to the construction of hydropower plants, Ethiopia has attached prime attention on power development on renewable sources of geothermal and wind farms, he said.
According to Alemayehu, the first phase of the Ashegoda wind power generation project is completed for testing, while construction of Adama-I wind power project is in progress and expected to generate the first 15 MW power next month.
He said the energy sector has shown promising trends of success in power exportation by implementing projects such as the power transmissions from Ethiopia to Djibouti (inaugurated recently), to Sudan (nearing completion) and to Kenya (signed agreement recently).
In addition to works of the power development programs, the GTP gives prime attention to replace energy wasting stoves by new ones, the minister said.
Accordingly, the government envisaged increasing the number of energy saving stove users from 16 percent in 2009 to 80 percent in 2013, he said.
Ambassador of China to Ethiopia, Xie Xiaoyan, on the occasion said the FAN project is one of the projects implemented under the First Master Loan Facility agreement between Ethiopia and China.
The success of the projects reflects the new achievement of financial cooperation between the two countries, which brings tangible benefits to the well being of people of the two nations, he said.
The successful completion and operation of the project is also another excellent example and further energizes the mutually beneficially bilateral cooperation between both countries especially in the fields of infrastructure and construction, he indicated.
Ambassador Xiaoyan said that the project would play an important role in promoting the social and economic development in Ethiopia and improving the livelihood of the local community.
In recent years, Ethiopia and China have witnessed a repaid relationship with fruitful results of pragmatic cooperation in various sectors, he said.
“The frequent exchanges of visits by various government officials have greatly promoted the cooperation and mutual understanding between the two sides. And especially the successful and very fruitful visit by PM Meles to China in August this year has pushed the bilateral relations up to a new stage,” he said.
Ambassador Xiaoyan also commended the role being played by Ethiopia in the sub region, Africa and in major international issues.
A few days ago, Ethiopia and China signed the second Master Loan Facility agreement mounting of 500 million US dollars for the implementation of new projects.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) said the country has placed green energy sector development strategy, which could be witnessed by FAN hydropower plant to satisfy the ever growing demand of power.
The project has created good opportunity to get additional knowledge on construction for the EEPCo and local companies participated in the project, he said.
With length and height of 1,000 meter and 35 meter respectively, and with total water storage capacity of 448 million cubic meters, the Fincha’a-Amerti-Neshe (FAN) hydroelectric dam has the capacity to generate 97 MW operating 6.5 hrs per day with two units, he said.
The project was implemented by China GEZHOUBA Group Company (CGGC), it was learnt.