Tallest hydropower dam in Africa dedicated

Broomfield, Colo., November 20, 2009 — Engineering and construction firm MWH and joint venture partner Energoprojekt Co. celebrated the completion of the $350 million Tekeze Hydropower Project in northern Ethiopia.

The government-funded project — and tallest dam in Africa at 188 meters-high — will provide 300 MW of reliable, renewable power to a country that has been forced to impose regular blackouts for its 80 million residents due to energy shortages.

The November 14 dedication ceremony at the plant located on Ethiopia’s Tekeze River attracted foreign and Ethiopian government officials, media and business leaders.

The Tekeze Hydropower Project is expected to provide 300 MW of power — 40 percent more than the current 683 MW generated for the entire country.

Due to the lack of fossil fuels, virtually all power in Ethiopia comes from hydroelectric sources. By tapping into the energy generation potential in the country’s rivers, this hydropower facility is designed as a low-cost way to increase the stability and access to light, heat and water for all communities.

MWH started working on the project in 1998, providing design review, preparation of construction drawings, bid packaging and evaluation and on-site construction management services for the single largest public works project in Ethiopia’s history.

Since the hydropower plant is nearly three hours from the nearest city, MWH guided the development of 37 km of roads and three small towns, where nearly 3,000 workers reside.

Over the duration of the project, several hundred local engineers and technicians received formal classroom and on-the-job training, thus building the technical skills of residents for future initiatives.