Africa
01:47, 22-Feb-2019
Ethiopia contracts Chinese companies to complete GERD construction
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In a bid to accelerate the pace of the construction of Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam, the country has contracted the services of two Chinese companies.
The Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) on Tuesday signed a $40 million contract with China Gezhouba Group Co., Ltd (CGGC). CGCG will henceforth handle the pre-commissioning activities at the dam, that is expected to be operational by 2020.
‘‘CGGC is expected to work aggressively in partnership with other companies in order to complete the project as per schedule,'‘ EEP's CEO Abrham Belay said. EEP also signed a contract worth $113 million with Voith Hydro Shanghai, that includes the electrical, mechanical, and various civil/structural works required to complete the construction of the generating station and spillways of GERD.
A long overdue project The 6,000-megawatt Grand Renaissance Dam is the centrepiece of Ethiopia's bid to become Africa's biggest power exporter.