Ethiopia will continue to build Gibe III despite different accusations, CEO of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) told the English weekly Addis Fortune.
CEO Meheret Debebe made the remark in response to the call by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee ‘to immediately halt all construction on the GIBE III dam’, in its 35th session held from June 19-29. The decision became public when the Committee published its documents three weeks ago and was thoroughly reviewed in this blog.
The CEO was quoted as saying:
The positive impact on the ground, which is revealed by the social and environmental impact studies, should be judged against different externalities that can result from the construction of the dam.
With regard to Kenya, the CEO noted that ‘Ethiopia has extensive institutional, professional and governmental forums with Kenya to discuss about different issues concerning the dam project.’
He also remarked that ‘other entities outside Kenya who are behind the campaign against the dam, which refuse to give up their fervour against the construction of the dam.’
A public relations officer of EEPCo dismissed the statements by the World Heritage Committee as "baseless" and paralleled it to the previous accusations by different international non-governmental groups. He underlined that:
“No matter what is reported, the project will continue, and financing to the project is certain as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has provided 470 million dollars, and the remaining might be covered by Ethiopia.”
However, the government failed to clarify or deny its reckless handling of the matter in the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee proceedings, which was explained in this blog two weeks ago.
EEPCO claimed 46pc of the project has been completed and the government covered 40 percent of the costs so far. The Gibe III dam project, with about 1,870 MW installed power generation capacity, is scheduled to be operational by September 2013. EEPCO’s annual plan indicates 49% of the project was supposed to be completed by June 2011.
Check the Gibe III dam Archive for previous and upcoming posts.
Emperor Meles Zenawi: one of the best leader in Africa, man of the century, without him who is going to lead Ehiopia? I wish Ethiopia had two Meles Zenawi’s.He loves his country his people and Africa. I compare him with all great black leaders – Emperor Haille-Selaisse Emperor Teodros,Emperor Menilik ,Kenneth Kaunda,Kwame Nkrumah fought for African unity…Patrice Lumumba in did you and i know who and what role Mandela played and is still playing in Afriqua. People please don’t complain about him, he is doing is best not only for Ethiopia but for All Africa. People remember he is not an ARAB but proud HABESHA from the land of the Tigers AXUM!!!!!!! By the way I’m not from Tigray I’m Ethiopian, born in ADDIS.
Zenavi is not important ,no political party is important , whom ever comes to power he must continue with these projects. Ethiopians cut so much forest for wood its a true ecological disaster ,CO gases emissions , land erodes and becomes poorer and soon floods ,droughts, and hunger comes. Electricity can be used for cooking and heating and save the most important thing for such a mountainous country –FORESTS! For Ethiopia has too many uneven terrain -and the key is to save forests! So this eco- groups idiots become tragic and funny at same time .Just ignore them and continue on.
Perfect we know who thoes behid this rally are and time has come to construct this dam and Ethiopia should construct this dam and show thoes external enemies that we are not expecting their will and proof for any kind of finance or construction. Go meles keep the construction going and show the world that we can do every thing we want.
We need to do what we tought is useful, The world heritage or whatever should know that we are making progress to save human life not historic or insects and flies in the turkana lake or what ever.
Lpong live MELES ZENAWI
yes Ethiopia has to complete this project!!! The right answer!!!!
we oppose any corruption and condemn the action of the ruling regime on human right buses and its one party rule! We condemn its attempt to silence decency and its crime in various regions of the nation against humanity …………….
However for the external advocacy’s that meddle in the right of a nation to use its resources, our message is clear we Ethiopians are and will always remain united to any foreign interference!! As a citizen we also call the regime in Ethiopia to listen to the voice of the very Ethiopian people so that it will not become an obstacle for democracy and encourage it to give power back to Ethiopian people.