Gibe III won t affect Kenya: Ambassador

Transcription

1 1870 MW January 2012 Volume IV Merry X-mass Gibe III won t affect Kenya: Ambassador Happy Ethiopian Epiphany The Ethiopian Herald on its issue on December 16, 2011 posted an interview with The Kenyan Ambassador in Ethiopia Dr. Monica Juma...Continued to Page-2 Ambassador visiting the project RCC Dam-General View Inside this Issue Gibe III won t affect Kenya; Ambassdor.2 Message from the Project Manager...3 Current Status.4 Board visited Gibe-III.5 Regional Consultative Meeting 6 HIV/AIDS Related Activity..7 Source; Ethiopian Herald,16 December Photo:

2 ADDIS ABABA: Gibe III Hydro power project, which is expected to generate 1870 MW upon completion, is among the mega projects launched by the government to meet its own as well as neighboring country s demand for electricity energy. But some environmentalists and lobbyist groups campaign against the project saying it will reduce the volume of Omo River which is a tributary to Lake Turkana and consequently affect the local people in Kenya. Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia Dr. Monica Juma, who visited the project site recently, told Ethiopian Press Agency reporters: The issue of Turkana is much greater than the Omo River. It has to do with the ecology, climate change, land use and volumes of water as well as rain and so forth. Besides, Omo is not the only water resource that feeds Lake Turkana. The Ambassador said that Lake Turkana is not only Kenyan affair but is also an Ethiopian issue. Given the ecology, it is important for us to understand what really is making the Lake Turkana shrink and the question is what we should do in order to reconstitute the lake, Dr. Juma said. According to the ambassador, the region is where foreign tourists are coming in frequently and some people want to retain some of these places to make documentation to show the way of life people lead as others lived many centuries ago. I think, we have to deal with this. Unless one visits Gibe III, he/she would not understand that it is impossible to undertake irrigation on that river because of the area s typography, the ambassador said. She also said that hydroelectric projects also by their nature do not affect the flow of waters. The ambassador said: Kenya eyes the development and the degree of transferability of this project because we are also quite interested in the development of clean energy and hydroelectric power. Gibe III project has greater significance to Kenya as it is one of the world source of energy. Ambassador Juma also expressed conviction the two countries will design mutually acceptable frameworks to address bigger challenges than the issue of Gibe III. She said: This is one of the regions both in the southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya that is least developed and very fragile. The debate has to be to on what we must do with this region that has been impacted so negatively by a range of factors, she said. We need to respond to the need of our people. We have to find the way of catapulting this area into modern face of development. The people on the Omo basin and Lake Turkana deserve good value of life, development and we have the obligation to cooperate in the way that provides improved living standards of these areas, the Ambassador said. Ambassador briefing the journalist 2

3 Message from the Project Manager joint effort exerted by the government as well as local and expatriate staff and management. Azeb Asnake, Gibe III Hydroelectric Project Manager Melkam Gena and Timket with heartfelt greetings to all staff of Gibe III Hydroelectric Project, at the celebration of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ and the 2012 New year for Expatriate staff. Celebrations like Gena & Timket reminds us to think about energy as the demand reaches to its peak. Due to the fact that production of reliable and sustainable energy is a prerequisite for socioeconomic development, the government of Ethiopia has given due attention and highest priority to meet the ever increasing demands of energy. It is my great pleasure to announce that we are celebrating Gena and Timket, while two of our major milestones of the project; completion of excavation of the dam and commencement of the Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) placement work and the construction of Gibe III- Wolayta-Addis Ababa 400kV power Transmission and sub-station Project works are begun. Generally speaking; the progress of Gibe III Hydroelectric Project is in the right track. At this juncture, I would like to appreciate all involved in the project for their utmost contribution in undertaking the project for its timely completion. I again call up on all concerned parties of the project; especially those at site to strengthen and continue their joint effort to realize the Project in due time. Once again, I would like to wish Melkam Gena & Timket and Happy New year to all local and expatriate staff of the project. I thank you. The recent inaugurated Finchaa-Amerti-Neshe power plant (97MW), the Adama and Ashegoda wind power projects that are under construction are among the positive additions to the existing power generation in Ethiopia.. Furthermore, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance and Gibe III Hydroelectric Projects; which are expected to generate 5250MW and 1870MW of electric power respectively, are under construction. Currently, Gibe III is progressing well with the 3

4 Status of the Project Works No Description Progress (As of Jan 22,2012) Remark 1 RCC Dam Excavation 100% Completed 2 RCC Dam foundation treatment 0.45% 3 RCC Dam Concrete Work 0.3% 4 Powerhouse Excavation 100% 5 Plunge Pool Excavation 55.4% Clearing,Dental and leveling concrete work is in progress. RCC placement is commenced on December 18,2011 Power House excavation from unit 1 to unit 10 is 100% completed Excavating the Left and Right Abutment and supporting rock is on progress Power intake excavation 100% Completed 6 Power water ways Power tunnels Right(641m) 100% Left(845.2m) 100% Completed 7 Surge shaft excavation Right surge shaft 60.8% Left surge shaft 65.4% Rock support installation is progressing 8 Penstock shaft Right penstock 40.2% Rock supporting work is Left penstock 22.6% in progress 9 Electromechanical (EM) works Design 57% Manufacturing 12% Delivery 4.1% Erection 2% Installation of PH grounding system, Draft Tube Elbows, Pier Guard, Embodied pipe is in progress 10 Hydraulic Steel Structural Works Design 54% Manufacturing 5% Delivery 0.3% Erection - 4 First stage embedded parts for draft tube slide gates and stop logs are under shipment

5 Board Visited Gibe III Project Site EEPCo s Board Chairman and Communication and Information Minister, Dr. Debretison G/ Michael, accompanied by Ato Miheret Debebe,CEO and Ato Abdulhakim Mohammed, Executive Officer Generation Construction, pay a one day visit to the Gibe-III project site on 10 th Jan The aim of this visit is part of project follow up with checking the overall progress of the project work and ensuring the progress at achieving the targeted Milestones. Presentation on the progress of the work was made followed by visit of all parts of the works. Following the site visit, further discussion with EEPCo management, Employer s Representatives, EPC Contractor and Plant Contractor have been made. During Site Visit During the meeting constructive discussions were made and important agreements on issues raised by all parties have been reached. In concluding remarks, the chairman appreciated the ongoing progress and addressed all parties to keep the good work and to ensure the timely completion of the project. During Presentations and Discussions at Site 5

6 Regional Consultative Meeting held in Jimma Regional consultative meeting was held on December 27 th and 28 th, 2011 at Jimma University on the issue of rehabilitation of Omo-Gibe river basin catchment areas. The meeting was organized by NGOs in collaboration with government organizations. The Ministry of Water and Energy, Ministry of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Authority, Jimma University, zonal and woreda Administrators, NGOs and other concerned bodies were among the participants in the meeting. The House of Peoples Representative Natural Resource Management and Environmental Protection Affairs Standing Committee members have also participated in the discussion. In the meeting, debates especially; in and around regional Gibe basin development, based on the study conducted on Gilgel Gibe I Hydroelectric Project that has a direct relation with Gibe II and Gibe III, among different scholars were conducted. The two days meeting also dealt with environmental protection, with due attention on soil and water conservation. During the meeting, participants agreed to form Task force on zonal and regional level that will be actively engaged in watershed management and river basin development. After the discussion, the standing committee along with zonal agricultural Bureau executives pay a day visit to Gibe I, Gibe II plants and Gibe III Project in relation to the respective environmental watershed management and developmental activities. Electric Power Matters During the visit, the committee was briefed about the environmental and developmental activities of Gibe III Project by the site coordinator. In response, the committee appreciated the ongoing progress of Gibe III project and called up on all stakeholders to coordinate efforts in the realization of the project. Finally, the committee has also called up on zonal and woreda executives and elders to work together for the timely completion of the Project. Management Coordination Meeting Held in Addis In-line with the agreed procedures among all parties and the requirement of the contract, Managerial Coordination Meeting for Gibe III Hydroelectric Project was held in Addis on November 30 th The meeting was held among representatives of EEPCo (the Employer), JV of ELC-Electro (consult and Coyne et Bellier, Employer s Representative (ER), Salini Costruttori S.p.A (the EPC Contractor), and Dongfang Electric International Corporation (the Plant Contractor). Such meetings are conducted when there are issues that need the top management s decision. In addition to such Managerial Coordination Meetings, there are also Technical coordination meeting conducted periodically among the technical staff of all parties representatives. 6

7 . HIV/AIDS Related Issues It has been a long time talking about HIV/ AIDS epidemic in all sectors. The pandemic is most likely affect the adult community according to World Health Organization (WHO). As it is the problem of the adult community, workers in different sectors are the hardest hit portion of any country. Thus, the situation of HIV/AIDS in GIBE III Hydroelectric project is not different. There is a mobile concentration of labor force, currently there are more than 4000 workers, due to the immigration of workforce to the project area the risk of HIV infection is expected to increase from time to time. High mobility, being far from their homes and families, isolation and working in confined environment, majority are very young adults or in sexually active age groups, peer pressure to seek out entertainment through alcohol or sex, and misinformation or lack of information about HIV/AIDS are factors which may expose workers to the risk of HIV infection. Currently the contractor, Salini, in collaboration with World Learning Ethiopia (W.L.E) working to address the problem of HIV/AIDS and its impact among the workers and adjoining communities. Peer education and training program are the Strategies adopted to bring behavioral change among the workers in the Project site and adjoining Community. Out of the strategies used to combat HIV/AIDS, Information, Education and Communication (IEC), access to condom, Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), Peer education, ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, and Condom use) are widely recognized. In such activity, progresses have been registered. Among the registered remarks, 63 Construction workers, 16 vulnerable women, 24 In -school youth from Yelo Kebel have been trained. Meanwhile 1045 people are referred to Yelo health center for HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing by In-school youth peer educators during January- December2011. In addition to this, 1219 construction workers referred to health facilities and other service providers for Health Counseling &Testing (HCT), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) and Care and support. World AIDs Day Celebrated at Gibe III HEP WORLD AIDS DAY which takes place annually on December 1 st is celebrated at the Gibe III Hydroelectric Project site from December 31 st 2011 to January 1 st 2012 under the theme Getting to zero: Zero new infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS deaths. Gibe III hydroelectric project Site Coordinator, representatives from EEPCo HIV/AIDS secretariat, Salini Costruttori, Loma and Kindo Didaye Woreda health offices are among the participants who attended the ceremony. Furthermore, around 2700 construction workers have participated in the event. Dawro Cultural Troupe 7

8 In the celebration the invited Dawro cultural troupe, entertain the audience through playing traditional and modern music, and performing dances, drama shows related to HIV/AIDS, colored the festivity. The program concluded by a keynotes addressed by the representatives on HIV/AIDS prevention effects with the emphasis on the importance of changing high risk behavior to reduce transmission of HIV among most at risk population in the project area and the surrounding community. Meanwhile 241 participants received services of mobile Voluntary counseling and testing on the spot which was rendered by Yelo health center. World HIV/AIDS Day Celebrated Colorfully 8

9 RCC Dam - RCC Placement in Progress RCC Dam-crack inducing with excavation 9

10 RCC Dam-2nd RCC layer in compaction RCC Dam GERCC rock reconstruction for 2 nd phase weak zone treatment at WZR 470. RCC Dam-area covered with RCC RCC Dam fixing steel reinforcement for concrete lining inside Right Drainage Gallery at El

11 Bridge constructed to replace the existing Omo Bridge RCC Dam 2nd RCC layer in compaction RCC Dam-RCC layer compaction test 11

12 Gibe III Today Published by: Gibe III Hydroelectric Project Office,Communications unit. Address :Africa Avenue, In front of Dembel City Center BeDesta Bldg, 1st Floor Phone: /31 Fax: http//: Managing Editor: Azeb Asnake Editor: Girma Eshetu Layout: Girma Eshetu Samuel Sisay 12