By Eyasu Zekarias
The Addis Ababa City Administration has decided to proceed with the construction of the Gerbi Drinking Water Dam using its own budget, following delays in loan disbursement from China Exim Bank. Originally planned for development in 2016, the project faced setbacks due to the non-release of funds, prompting city officials to take matters into their own hands.
The Gerbi Dam is expected to be the third component of the city’s drinking water supply system, with a planned capacity to produce over 73,000 cubic meters of water per day. A prior study indicated that successful implementation of this project would meet the city’s water needs for up to 20 years without issues.
However, the project, which is estimated to cost around 3 billion birr, has not yet been initiated due to various challenges. City officials noted that a revision of the initial study was necessary, and a new procedural framework has been established to facilitate the project’s implementation.
During a recent meeting attended by Chen Hai, China’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, and representatives from CGCOC Group, Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie discussed strategies for accelerating the construction of the Gerbi dam. “We have reached an agreement with the Chinese Embassy and CGCOC Group to fund this project through the city administration’s budget,” she stated. This collaboration aims to harmonize water demand and supply within the city.
The project will be overseen by the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority Project Office and includes not only the construction of the dam but also a treatment plant and water distribution lines, ensuring improved access to drinking water for residents.
