Omo River Valley: Hydroelectric Dam

• Aims of the Hydroelectric dam:

  243 m high concrete dam: Large scale attempt to bring electricity into the country

  Besides electricity the damn provided:

  • Supply irrigation and water to large scale agriculture enterprises eg Large scale sugar cane farm
  • Cotton, rice & palm oil -> key exports
• Advantages:

  Generates electricity to Ethiopia and neighbouring countries
• Disadvantages of Hydroelectric damn in Ethiopia:

  Local and international fears surrounding the envrionmental damage to ecosystems

  200000 indigenous people lost their homes and land, with many reliant on the rivers cycles for agricultural reasons: maize production ect

  Eg. Bodi and Mursi tribes
• Case specific details: Hydroelectric dam

  • 243m high concrete dam (more durable)
  • Cost $1.8 billion USD
  • Gibe III facility will provide large agricultural enterprises water for irrigation
  • Power output 1870 MW