Premier inaugurates Finchaa Amertineshe project
18 December 201 1
FINCHAA—Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
yesterday inaugurated the Finchaa Amertineshe
hydropower and irrigation project constructed at
a cost of 1 37 million dollars in the the Finchaa,
Horogudru area of the Oromia State.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 97
MWproject, Prime Minister Mele said that the
project is unique for it is also utilized to develop
6,000 hectares through irrigation. The irrigation
scheme is of paramount importance for the recently
expanded Finchaa Sugar Factory.
The Prime Minister indicated that, side by side
the hydro power project, the expansion work on
the sugar factory has been undertaken to enable it
enhance its production capability.
Indicating that the Finchaa project is among
the major power projects being carried out as part
of the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan,
Meles said, all the projects meant to raise the
national generation capacity to 1 0,000 MWare
progressing according to the national target.
He also pointed out that nationals at home and
abroad are making increased financial contributions
for the realization of the projects in general and
the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam in particular.
Water and Energy Minister Alemayehu Tegenu
also said that the power projects being carried out
here in Ethiopia including the present have
significant role in climate change adaptation locally,
regionally as well as internationally as they are
renewable energy sources.
According the Minister, the irrigation scheme
is also expected to raise the 1 4,000 hectare
sugarcane plantation by 40 per cent.
Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia on his part
said that the project was executed with a fund
provided by his government. The successful
completion of the project would create an
opportunity for Ethiopia to get additional loan from
China, he said.
According to Ethiopian Electric Power
Corporation, 1 5 per cent of the total cost of the
two-unit power plant and irrigation project was
covered by the Ethiopian Government and the rest
85 per cent from the Chinese loan.
The construction of the power plant was
launched in 1 999 E.C.
