Recent highlights earlier last week noted Ethiopia’s plan to revitalize the Alwero dam after thirty years of neglect. Considered one of the nation’s most significant dams, the government seeks to bring the long-abandoned project back to life. The initiative is expected to enable investors and smallholder farmers to utilize its resources. The decision to revitalize the dam, a popular project in the 1980s and early 1990s, has mostly been disregarded since the government change in May 1991. Furthermore, while the dam and various essential facilities were completed at the time, others were disregarded. One of these is the large-scale irrigation project, which was a joint venture between the Ethiopian government and the USSR. This ambitious endeavor has been neglected for over 33 years. However, the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowland has now shown commitment to revitalizing the project.
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The Significance of Alwero Dam Once Completed
Once completed, the Alwero Dam is expected to have significant benefits in many aspects, especially irrigation. The endeavor seeks to ensure its benefits for the Baro Akobo River Basin, located approximately 49 kilometers south of Gambella City. According to Abraham Belay, Minister of MILLs, the ministry is working to maximize the use of the facility. Currently, it is being managed by the central government. A year and a half ago, the Office of the Federal Auditor General reported that the Alwero Dam, which cost 648 million birr to construct, was idle.
The minister noted that the ministry is implementing changes to rectify numerous ongoing disinfection projects. “We are also conducting a study to revive some abandoned projects, such as Alwero, which have remained incomplete for decades,” he continued. The dam is expected to be a significant game changer in Ethiopia’s irrigation schemes. Moreover, it also seeks to revolutionize the nation’s agricultural sector.
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Construction of Koysha hydropower dam in Ethiopia 39% complete
