Government of Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

Ethiopian Delegation Visits Meroe Dam

During the visit of the Ethiopian delegation to Sudan for the Ethio-Sudan High Level Joint Commission Summit, the delegation paid a visit to Sudan's largest dam, the Meroe Dam, on Wednesday (December 4). Prime Minister Hailemariam and members of the delegation, accompanied by President Al Bashir visited the different facilities of the dam.

The Meroe Dam on the Nile produces 1,200mw, and has a storage capacity of 12 billion cubic meters of water. The cost of construction was US$1.9 billion dollars, and it was funded by government and other sources. In the briefing given the Ethiopian delegation, the unique features of the project were underlined, including the benefits to the local community. A cultural committee was set up to conduct archeological surveys to make sure buildings and artifacts from the ancient Meriotic civilization were kept from destruction during the construction.

Compensation was provided for those whose land was inundated at the rate of three acres for each one lost. An international airport, a railway line, schools, health facilities and new housing were constructed for the local community. The delegation also visited the premises of a Sudanese company largely engaged in the printing of Sudan's currency. Company officials, who demonstrated their facilities for secure printing and their safety standards, said they had had the contract since 1994.

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