The newly established government agency to oversee the construction of irrigation dams has kicked off a feasibility study and design process for the construction of 22 new medium and large irrigation dams across seven regional states at a total cost of 255 million Br.

The Irrigation Development Commission hired local companies that will conduct analysis on the projects' economic, technical, legal and scheduling considerations before launching the construction of the dams. The companies hired for the feasibility study will also do preliminary and detailed engineering design of the dams.

The projects are located in the Oromia, Amhara, Somali and Southern, Nations, Nationalities & People's, Tigray, Gambela, Benishangul-Gumuz and Somali regional states. The construction of one-third of the projects is planned to be kicked off this fiscal year since the study, design and review process is scheduled to be concluded this year. The remaining projects are set to be launched in the coming year.

The feasibility study and design of seven projects have been completed, and design review is expected to be finalised by December 2020. Megech, Gilgel Abay, Jemma, Bilate, Dabus, Gololcha and Gelana are the sites where projects are expected to begin this fiscal year. Oromia Water Works Design & Supervision Enterprise, the Ethiopian Construction Design &  Supervision Works Corporation and the Amhara Design Supervision Works Enterprise are reviewing the design of the projects.

The pre-construction phase for another seven projects that were started last fiscal year is still at an early stage, currently 20pc to 44pc complete. The design and review process is expected to be completed this fiscal year.

Terkan Irrigation Dam was awarded to Tigray Water Works Design & Supervision Enterprise; Mille and Abat Beles to Amhara Design & Supervision Enterprise; and Gilo and Sego to South Design, Construction & Supervision Enterprise. Borana and Shebelle were also awarded to the Ethiopian Construction Design & Supervision Works Corporation. All the companies secured the projects through a bidding process.

The Commission is in the process of hiring companies that will conduct feasibility studies, create designs and complete reviews of the remaining eight dams, which will be built on Shinfa, Angereb, Weyto, Shife, Marmora, Lower Genalle, Weyb and Buldeho rivers.

Once the design of the projects are reviewed, the Commission will then announce bids to hire construction companies, according to Bizuneh Tolcha, communications director at the Commission.

In the last fiscal year, the Commission allocated 14.3 billion Br for the construction of irrigation dams across the country. This year, it plans to construct 14 irrigation dams for 14.7 billion Br, four of which have already been awarded to contractors.

The projects are expected to effectively utilise the water resources of the country to help the agricultural sector, according to Bizuneh.