ADDIS ABABA, October 17 (Reuters) – German machine construction conglomerate Voith has signed an agreement to supply turbines for a $ 4 billion dam that Ethiopia is building along the Nile River, state-affiliated media reported Wednesday.
The Grand Renaissance dam of 6000 megawatts is the center of the Horn of Africa’s ambition to become the largest exporter of energy on the continent.
The agreement with Voith, which already supplied 13 of the 16 turbines of the dam together with the Alstom of France, was made after the government canceled a contract with the metal-guided Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC) due to delays for the remaining three to deliver turbines, which suffer losses.
“The contract was awarded to Voith in a tender that was offered two weeks ago at a discount of $ 5.9 million from each (of the three) turbine,” quoted Fana Broadcasting Corporation METEC & # 39; s trade headquarters, Abdulaziz Mohammed , as follows.
The Italian company Salini Impregilo remains the main contractor who builds the dam, while METEC was the contractor for the electromechanical and hydraulic steel structures of the project.
In August, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed acknowledged that the dam would have had a delay of a few years, which was initially expected to be ready by 2020.
The government plans to restructure METEC, which will be renamed the National Metal Engineering Corporation. (Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
