Ethiopia’s energy output is set to be doubled as a $1.8 billion dam project, which has been under construction for a while along Ethiopia’s Omo River, could begin generation in June 2015 and become fully operational by the first quarter of 2016.

The plant, named Gilgel Gibe 3, is expected to help the East African nation solve its perennial energy issue and sustain its rapidly growing economy, which is expanding at 9 percent per year.

“88 percent of the work for the Gibe 3 hydropower project has already been completed,” Azeb Asnake, chief executive officer of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, told Reuters.

Construction commenced in 2008 and was meant to last three years but funding shortages, occasioned by concerns over the environmental impact of the project, has stalled completion.

One of the issues raised by critics of the project is that it will reduce water flow and affect fishery at Lake Turkana, which the Omo river feeds. This made it lose potential funding from the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank.
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China later released a loan of $500 million for turbines.

Azeb however dismissed the concerns raised. According to her, Ethiopia’s research suggests that regulating river flow will stabilise fluctuating water levels.

She disclosed that two of ten units would be ready in six months, while an extra unit would be added each month afterwards.

Once completed, the plant will generate 1,870 MW of power. The country is also developing 6,000 MW Grand Renaissance Dam along the Nile.