Amb. Brigadier Tesfaye (C) the Ethiopian Consul General at the Meeting |
The multibillion-dollar Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which is currently 30% complete has not received a penny in external funding thence solely financed by Addis Ababa based central coffers and contributions from Ethiopians in the Diaspora and citizens of neighbouring African countries.
The
Ethiopian Consul General in Somaliland Brigadier General Berhe Tesfaye informed
this at a meeting where local citizens and Ethiopians residing in Somaliland
were in congregation in hotel in Hargeisa where he also revealed that his
country is now in a position to supply a sufficient Electricity Somaliland.
"For
use by Somaliland citizens the Ethiopian government has availed 60 megawatts of
electricity at the Togwajale border town for the sole purpose of supply to
somaliland and us by citizens" Said Brig Tesfaye
The
diplomat, to whom the conducive relations prevalent between his country and
Somaliland are attributed to, urged both local and foreign investors wishing to
facilitate the power supply from the Ethiopian side will be accommodated once
relevant authorization is availed from the Hargeisa based authorities.
On
the benefits of the Renaissance Dam to Ethiopia Brigadier Tesfaye said that it
is expected upon completion that the Ethiopian economy shall shift from one
driven by Agriculture to an industrial based one a move anticipated to
alleviate poverty thus pep-up economic growth.
Informing
that over six countries as far apart as Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya have
already requested electricity supply once the Dam is completed Brig Tesfaye
also revealed to participants of the Ethio-Somaliland meeting that if
Somaliland takes advantage of the 60 megawatts already in Togwajale town it
will Djibouti and Sudan (North) currently supplied.
Stressing
on the importance the Ethiopian government places on successful completion of
the multi-billion dam project and the attendant benefits to be accrued not only
by Ethiopians but citizens of the 10 Riparian stats that include Egypt which is
in disfavor, the Ethiopian Consul General said that financial support is
required from Ethiopian at home and in the diaspora as well as other friendly
citizens like Somalilanders.
Said
he, "We are undertaking a multi-billion project ingle handedly thus urging
for contributions of any amount big or small"
Saying
that a project in which ordinary citizens take ownership pride in, is that
which is implemented from the people's little donations be it a Shilling, Birr
or Dollar rather than from huge contributions in their millions that
unfortunately come with attached strings.
Buoyed
by the words of Brigadier General Berhe Tesfaye, the participants who had come
for deliberations thence unprepared for a fundraiser dipped into their pockets
and at the end of the meeting thousands of Dollars in cash had been contributed
while thousands were pledged.
According
to the Ethiopian consulate in Hargeisa those wishing to contribute towards
construction of the Renaissance Dam can do so through the purchase of bonds as
cheap as $50 while others can chip in directly through an account at the
Commercial branch of the Somaliland Central Bank in Hargeisa.
For
more information kindly contact the officeof the Ethiopian Consul General
office in Hargeisa
Similar
meetings brainstorming issues of importance for Ethiopians resident in
Somaliland those in relation to local citizens as well as, geared towards
fostering relations are an ongoing program organized by the Hargeisa based
Consul General.
Grand
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam , formerly known as the Millennium Dam and
sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam, is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in
Ethiopia currently under construction. It is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of
Ethiopia, about 40 km (25 mi) east of the border with Sudan. At 6,000 MW, the
dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as
well as the 8th largest in the world sharing the spot with Krasnoyarskaya.The
reservoir at 63 billion cubic meters will be one of the continent's largest.
According to the Ethiopian government, as of February 2014, the dam is 30%
complete.For full Dam details
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