Ethiopia, one of the fastest growing economies in Africa according to the IMF, is among the East Africa countries that have been ranked to have fertile land for the construction business to flourish. And not surprisingly construction is one of the largest industry sectors in Ethiopia and according to some estimates the second largest employment generator after agriculture. To eradicate poverty, expand Ethiopia’s infrastructure and to create jobs, the government of Ethiopia launched some mega-construction projects. In this video, we will take a look at the top 10 ongoing mega projects in Ethiopia beginning with number ten.
Number ten: Addis-Africa International Convention and Exhibition Center
The Addis-Africa International Convention & Exhibition Centre (AAICEC) is one of Ethiopia’s most prominent ongoing megaprojects. It is a public-private investment initiative that aims to build an International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Addis Ababa. It is expected to be the country’s largest and first convention center, with facilities such as exhibition and conference rooms, cinemas, theaters, a playground, and other amenities spread across 60,000 square metres of land. According to Ayalew Abey, General Manager of AAICEC, all of the center’s facilities are developed using cutting-edge venue technologies, making the centre unique in Ethiopia and East Africa in terms of scale and sophistication. The project is projected to cost more than $50 billion and to be completely operational in seven years when all three building phases are completed. The project is currently in its second phase of construction.
Number nine: Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
The GERD project, originally known as the Millennium Dam, is a gravity dam located in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz Region, some 15 kilometres (9 miles) east of the border with Sudan. The dam has been under construction since 2011, when a $4.7 billion procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to Salini Costruttori, and it was scheduled to be completed in July 2017. However, it is still under construction due to a variety of obstacles, including a regional conflict over the flow of the Nile, delays, and the termination of the initial contract with METEC, which is managed by the Ethiopian Military. The dam’s principal objective is to generate electricity to alleviate Ethiopia’s acute energy need and to export to surrounding nations. When finished, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa and one of the top 20 in the world, with a planned installed capacity of 5.15 gigatonnes. Construction of the dam is planned to provide up to 12,000 jobs, and around 20,000 people will be relocated during the duration of the project.
Number eight: Lapsset Project
Although it is primarily a Kenyan project, the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project, often known as the Lamu Corridor, is one of Ethiopia’s top ongoing megaprojects. It was inaugurated on March 2, 2012, by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir. The project’s goal is to connect Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, and if finished, it will be the largest and most ambitious infrastructure project in East Africa. The project involves, but is not limited to, the construction of a new 32-berth port at Lamu, Kenya, railway lines connecting the three countries, road networks, and oil pipelines. The cost of LAPSSET was expected to be $16 billion in 2009. Recent estimates, however, based on research, place the project’s cost between US$22 billion and US$23 billion.
Number seven: Bole International Airport
The current Bole International Airport in Addis Abeba, which can handle 19 million passengers annually, is experiencing congestion due to the ever-increasing number of passengers, so the Ethiopian government has decided to build another airport, which, when completed, will be Africa’s largest. The budget is planned to be USD 5 billion, with four runways and the potential to handle up to 120 million people per year after the project is completed. The airport would be located in Bishoftu, a town 39 kilometres south of Addis Abeba, and would encompass an area of 35 square kilometres. The ADP ingenierie is now undertaking the planning study for the new airport project.
Number six: Tams Hydropower Project
The TAMS hydropower project is a proposed multipurpose project in the Baro River basin in southwestern Ethiopia. The project region is situated at the confluence of the Baro River basin’s descending, densely forested highlands and the alluvial, fertile plains of the lower Baro River. The proposed TAMS reservoir would have 4.8 billion m3 of live storage, a dam height of 248 m, and a reservoir size of 76 km2. In a country where development is impeded by electricity shortages, the hydroelectric plant would meet a major amount of the region’s energy demand. According to GlobalData, which analyses and analyses over 170,000 power plants globally, the project is now in the permitting stage. It will be built in a single phase and is projected to be operational in 2025 after construction is completed.
Number five: The La Gare
The La Gare is a private-public partnership housing project being built by the Eagle Hills development business and the Ethiopian government. The 36-hectare site, located at the former Addis Ababa Central Train Station, is one of the country’s largest mixed-use developments. When finished, it will be a $1.5 billion complex with 4,000 residences, hotels, retail, and leisure activities. The objective is to draw attention to Ethiopia’s rich history and natural beauty while also contributing to the local market by creating jobs and further anchoring the site in the Ethiopian economy. If the project is successful, it will demonstrate that Addis Ababa can support a commercial real estate market, which will strengthen the city’s design and finance sectors and attract outside investment. It will also be a victory in Ethiopia’s quest to become a middle-income country.
Number four: Mesob Tower
Mesob Tower is a proposed 70-story mixed-use building on Mozambique street in Addis Abeba’s Kirkos sub-city. The development, which is expected to be a tourist attraction, is shaped like a “Mesob,” an Ethiopian household item where food is kept. The Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism is in charge of the project. The overall land area for this 70-floor development is 50,000 sqm, and it will be 250 meters tall, more than three times taller than the Azuri Towers in Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, which have an average height of 70 metres. The tower’s development will cost approximately US $681 million and will include, among other things, hotels, shopping malls, a cultural centre representing all areas of Ethiopia, a gym, and a golf club. The project is expected to be completed in five years.
Number three: Adwa Center
The Adwa centre, named after the historic victory of Ethiopian patriots over the Italian invasion at the end of the nineteenth century, is intended to serve as a landmark that shows the significance of Ethiopian unity in overcoming any kind of adversity and is intended to be the largest of its kind in the country. The majestic Adwa Centre is being built close to the Addis Ababa Municipality building, which also houses the mayor’s office. It will be built by the Chinese international economic and technical cooperation group, which inked the agreement with the Addis Ababa City Administration. The Centre will include a museum with historical facts about the Battle of Adwa, as well as a large meeting space that can hold up to 2,000 people. The centre will also have film halls, a library, and places for sport and amusement for youngsters. The $90.46 million megaproject features cutting-edge parking with a capacity of over 1,000 cars at a time. According to current reports, the center’s construction was 75% complete.
Number two: Public Library Project
The public library project, which is one of the big projects underway in the City administration, is being completed quickly since the shortage of such facilities, if not addressed quickly, will likely harm future generations in terms of access to libraries and similar amenities. This project, which is now underway and has a budget of approximately 1 billion Ethiopian currency, would address concerns related to library access for the City’s young and those who languish performing things that are detrimental to their health and mental faculties. This library, which is built on 1.8 hectares of land, can accommodate 35000 people and includes parking for 113 cars. It also boasts state-of-the-art ICT equipment. Both local inhabitants and members of the diplomatic community in Addis Abeba are welcome to utilize the Library.
Number one: Aluto–Langano Geothermal Power Project
The Aluto Langano geothermal power plant is a geothermal power project under development in Arsi, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is being built within the dormant Aluto volcano, a volcanic complex of the Ethiopian Rift valley with many craters up to 1 km wide. The station has been producing geothermal energy since 1990, but has been paused for expansion. The expansion project, which intends to generate an extra 70 MW, is largely supported by the World Bank through the International Development Association. A total of 12 wells are planned for the Aluto Langano extension project, and lately State-owned Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) reported that production testing for the drilled wells in the Aluto Langano geothermal site has begun. When completed, the Aluto-Langano Geothermal Power Station will be run by Aluto Langano Geothermal Wellhead Power System, a firm completely controlled by the Ethiopian state-owned company EEP.
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