Coletta Wanjohi
Press TV, Asosa
40 km from its border with Sudan, Ethiopia continues building its 6000 MW dam. The clearing of an area of 1854 sq. meters which will act as a water reservoir for the dam is now underway. Ethiopia is planning to fill this area with 74 billion cubic meters of water within a period of 5 to 6 years.
However, Egypt feels that the time is too short and should be elongated as much as possible but Ethiopia insists that its original plan is satisfactory.
Ethiopia insists that its usage of the Nile water is now based on the expertise it has .With no backing down in its earlier plans, it expected to have the first phase of production even before the earlier target of 2017.
At the main dam site, construction continues day and night.
The construction of the powerhouses for the dam is complete. The one on the left has 6 units while the one on the right has 10 units, each unit with a capacity of producing 375 MW of power. 41% of the project activities has already been accomplished. A framework signed recently by heads of state from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on the Nile cooperation is not legally binding since it is not even an agreement. As such, Ethiopia has no legal pressure to its original plan on the dam construction.