04 Feb 2010

An unforeseen geological event provoked a “cave in” and a huge rock fall  involving about 15 m of the headrace tunnel, which is 26 Km long, at the Gibe II Hydro Power Plant Project in Ethiopia.

The Project was constructed in the Great African Rift Valley region. The tunnel, cutting through heterogeneous and complex geological formations, required the highest construction standards and is an outstanding piece of engineering achievement. 

The Plant, which was handed over 6 months ahead of the contractual milestone and was recently inaugurated, will undergo a 2 month maintenance period, which EEPCO has entrusted to Salini Costruttori, in order to recover full operational capability. Highly qualified personnel are already at work to ensure the earliest resumption of energy production.