gerd Grand Ethiopian RENAISSANCE Dam the dream of a Nation
gerd Grand Ethiopian RENAISSANCE Dam the dream of a Nation
INDEX PREFACE 10 Pietro Salini GERD: water that becomes energy, development and future CHAPTER 1 18 GERD The dam of the Ethiopian Renaissance CHAPTER 2 34 GERD Beyond the impossible CHAPTER 3 72 On the shoulders of people CHAPTER 4 92 At the edge of the world CHAPTER 5 112 Webuild in Ethiopia 70 years serving the Country
• One of the two bridges spanning the Blue Nile, with the main dam in the background
• The main dam
• Main dam and gated spillway
WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION PREFACE | 11 much energy as three nuclear power plants combined, a priceless legacy for a great nation of nearly 130 million people. On that hot day close to the Lake Tana, to even imagine a dam of more than ten million cubic meters of concrete, an artificial lake stretching over 170 kilometers, and a powerhouse capable of doubling the electricity output of an entire state, was a challenge first for the imagination, and only then for engineering. But imagination itself is the necessary attitude for those who live by visions and are used to inhabiting the future, even before the present. GERD, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, was born from a vision: that of the government of one of Africa’s most populous countries, which chose to make the best use of its natural resources in order to generate energy and development. And indeed, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is not only the largest hydropower project in Africa, but also the tangible symbol of how ingenuity, courage, and vision can transform the destiny of a country. GERD is energy that flows, it is light that illuminates homes, schools, and factories, it is a driver for the economic and social growth of Ethiopia and of all East Africa. That day is still etched in my memory. I was close to the Lake Tana, where we had built an important hydroelectric power plant for Ethiopia, the Beles multipurpose project, like many others completed over the years. By my side was Ethiopia’s then Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, a statesman of great vision with whom we had already imagined, designed, and built many of the nation’s most vital works. Suddenly, he stopped and said to me: “I have a dream for this country: to turn the waters of all its rivers into our oil—an inexhaustible source of clean energy, powerful enough to fuel industries, to bring light to every home, and to give hope to every young generation. For this reason, I want to build something great on the Nile, something unique, something extraordinary. How long would it take you to design it?” It was a warm, luminous evening, and in that moment the GERD was born, the dream of an entire nation. Little more than a year later, Meles Zenawi passed away, but another great man, another trusted friend, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, embraced that vision. Defying enormous challenges, he carried it forward, sustaining and delivering the project that today enters history: a dam producing as 10 preface GERD: water that becomes energy, development and future Pietro Salini, WEBUILD CEO
PREFACE | 13 WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 12 leading renewable energy source and has a key role in decarbonization. Thanks to ongoing hydropower projects worldwide, Webuild will help generate 14,000 MW of installed capacity, providing clean and accessible energy to over 23 million people and reducing CO2 emissions by 13 million tons per year. In Africa, as elsewhere, access to energy is not just a technological matter, but an essential condition for industrial development, for education, for health, and for human dignity. The water flowing from the Blue Nile, transformed into electricity, thus becomes a bridge to the future, capable of uniting peoples and fueling new opportunities. GERD is a work that will remain in the history of engineering, but above all in the memory of those who saw it come to life and of those who, thanks to it, will be able to imagine a different tomorrow. For us at Webuild, it is further confirmation that building sustainable infrastructure means building the future. For us at Webuild, leading the construction of this project was both a privilege and a responsibility. We operated in a complex context, in one of the most remote regions of the continent, bringing infrastructure, technologies, and expertise where before there were only dirt roads and isolated villages. We built not only dams and power plants, but also schools, hospitals, roads, and connections, an entire ecosystem in support of development. This is why GERD represents what we know how to do best: tackling engineering challenges of global scale, combining technical excellence with organizational capability. In the case of the Ethiopian dam, this meant diverting the course of the Blue Nile, placing millions of cubic meters of concrete, installing turbines capable of generating over 15,000 GWh per year of clean energy. GERD is in fact a valuable tool for Ethiopia’s energy transition, but also for that of an entire continent. Hydropower is today the world’s
WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 14 • Upstream view of the main dam during the diversion of the Blue Nile
WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION GERD. LA DIGA DEI RECORD • THE DAM OF RECORDS 16 17 • The main dam with a view of the powerhouses
18 cHapTER 1 WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION
CHAPTER 1 | GERD, THE DAM OF THE ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 20 CAP 2 | 21 • Addis Ababa Once fully operational, the energy produced by GERD will allow Ethiopia to double its national production and export electricity to neighboring countries such as Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti, and Tanzania Ethiopia is reshaping its future by focusing on water and clean energy production. With an impressive network of rivers and an estimated hydroelectric potential of over 45,000 megawatts, the country has pursued an ambitious strategy over recent decades to transform its natural resources into clean, accessible, and exportable energy. This is a gamble played out through engineering, politics, and diplomacy, which has already produced tangible results, transforming the face of a nation historically marked by energy poverty. The protagonists of this transformation are the large dams and the hydroelectric plants connected to them. These are ambitious, technologically advanced projects that address a dual need: on one hand, ensuring access to electricity for a population now approaching 130 million people; on the other, transforming Ethiopia into an energy hub for the entire East African region. According to data from the Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), in 2024, the country surpassed 5,300 MW of installed capacity, double that of ten years earlier. But the goal is far more ambitious: to reach 17,000 MW by 2037. Energy development thus becomes a lever for industrial transformation, poverty reduction, and job growth. Because a country that controls its resources is a country that can better choose its path of development for the future.
CHAPTER 1 | GERD, THE DAM OF THE ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION GERD. THE DAM OF RECORDS 22 23 In 2024, Ethiopia surpassed 5,300 MW of installed capacity, double that of ten years earlier, but the goal is to reach 17,000 MW by 2037 • Downstream view. Powerhouse on the right bank, central spillway, and crest bridge of the dam GERD, the Renaissance Dam The cornerstone of this development plan is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the mega infrastructural project that includes the dam, which, by its very name, embodies a national vision: that of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance, taking shape through increasing energy independence and the ambition to become Africa’s leading producer of sustainable energy. With a reservoir capacity of 74 billion cubic meters and an installed capacity of 5,150 megawatts (equivalent to three medium-sized nuclear power plants), GERD is the largest hydropower project in Africa and one of the twenty largest in the world. Its energy potential lies in the two hydroelectric plants located at the base of the dam, and once fully operational, the energy produced will allow Ethiopia to double its national production and export electricity to neighboring countries such as Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti, and Tanzania. Beyond its enormous energy potential, GERD is also a political and cultural symbol. Its construction was entirely funded by the government and the Ethiopian population through the issuance and acquisition of bonds, without the support of multilateral banks. This circumstance reflects Ethiopia’s determination to take control of its destiny and look toward a future of development.
24 25 CHAPTER 1 | GERD, THE DAM OF THE ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION
CHAPTER 1 | GERD, THE DAM OF THE ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION GERD. THE DAM OF RECORDS 26 27 • The village of Banza
CHAPTER 1 | GERD, THE DAM OF THE ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION GERD. THE DAM OF RECORDS CAP 2 | 28 29 • Addis Ababa
CHAPTER 1 | GERD, THE DAM OF THE ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION GERD. THE DAM OF RECORDS CAP 2 | 30 31 • View of the reservoir formed by the dam and of the Blue Nile downstream of the main dam
CHAPTER 1 | GERD, THE DAM OF THE ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION GERD. THE DAM OF RECORDS CAP 2 | 32 33 • The village of Banza
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CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 36 37 At the end of a fourteen-year journey, GERD stands today, mighty and complete. A record-breaking wall that has not only tamed the course of the Blue Nile but also radically transformed the economy and prospects of an entire country. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa but also one of the poorest, facing significant challenges ranging from floods to recurrent droughts. Yet, it possesses enormous water potential, thanks to its topography and the great rivers that cross it. The Blue Nile is one of these, and it is precisely on its course that GERD was built, not as a simple dam but as an integrated system of works. The project, commissioned by Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), involved the construction of two dams: the main one, the Main Dam, 170 meters high and 1,800 meters long, a gravity dam made of roller-compacted concrete (RCC); and a secondary one, the Saddle Dam, 5 km long and 50 meters high, built in rockfill with a concrete facing. The Saddle Dam has an arched shape resembling a crescent moon nestled in the Ethiopian hills, tasked with closing a natural depression on the left side of the reservoir to prevent water dispersion toward Sudan. The numbers alone convey the scale of the two dams: 10.7 million cubic meters of RCC - roller-compacted concrete were placed for the Main Dam, while 15.3 million cubic meters of rockfill were used for the Saddle Dam. “Building GERD,” declares engineer Christian Fabio Capitanio, Senior Executive Vice President Operations and Executive Director Sub-Saharan Africa at Webuild, “was a unique endeavor. We diverted the course of the Nile, built two dams, created an enormous artificial lake, and ignited a new future for Ethiopia.” The reservoir formed by the construction of the two dams, which now powers the hydroelectric plants, has a linear length of 172 kilometers, covers 1,875 square kilometers, and has a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters of water. It is estimated that the average annual water outflow downstream of the dam will be 50 billion cubic meters. GERD is not just a dam but an integrated system of works GERD, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, is one of the most complex and grandiose infrastructural works built in recent years worldwide. To achieve the project’s goal of creating a facility capable of doubling Ethiopia’s electricity production, the dimensions of the entire structure were a determining factor. These dimensions have allowed GERD to break world records and achieve unprecedented milestones in the African continent. The first record is tied to the dimensions of the Main Dam itself. The main dam, standing 170 meters high and 1,800 meters long at the crest, is the largest gravity dam in RCC by volume ever built in Africa. In the continent, the Webuild Group has constructed other dams taller than GERD, such as GIBE III on the Omo River, which reaches 250 meters and was the tallest dam built in roller-compacted concrete (RCC) in the world at the time of its inauguration, but GERD’s height combined with its crest length earns it the absolute record. The second milestone was achieved on December 28, 2014, when the teams working on the Main Dam set the world record for the largest amount of RCC placed in 24 hours, equivalent to 23,000 cubic meters. This success, achieved after extensive preparation, testifies not only to the industriousness but also to the engineering and organizational skills of the construction site. RECORD #1 STANDING 170 METERS HIGH AND 1,800 METERS LONG AT THE CREST, THE MAIN DAM IS THE LARGEST GRAVITY DAM IN RCC IN AFRICA BY VOLUME RECORD #2 THE MAIN DAM CONSTRUCTION SITE HOLDS THE WORLD RECORD FOR THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF RCC PLACED IN 24 HOURS, EQUIVALENT TO 23,000 CUBIC METERS QR CODE SCAN in AFRICA
38 39 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Main dam WHAT IS RCC? RCC (roller-compacted concrete) is a particular mix of concrete with low cement and water content, very dry. Unlike traditional concrete, it is not poured but spread in successive layers and mechanically compacted, similar to what happens with road embankments and asphalt. Its use has become widespread in dam construction because it allows for faster construction while ensuring the structure’s stability and durability.
CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Early stages of dam construction with the diversion of the Blue Nile
CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • River diversion using the culverts at the base and through the body of the dam
44 45 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The secondary rockfill dam with concrete face
46 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION The hydroelectric plants that light up Ethiopia GERD’s task is to generate electricity by harnessing the waters of the Blue Nile. At the base of the Main Dam, two powerhouses were built, one on the right bank and one on the left bank of the river. The two powerhouses consist of 13 Francis turbines, with a total installed capacity of 5,150 MW and an expected production of 15,700 GWh/year. Energy production began in 2022, when the reservoir was not yet fully filled. The project was designed so that two of the 13 turbines could be powered at a lower water level than the final one, allowing the facility to start generating economic returns through energy production while the reservoir continued to fill. Diverting a river, giving birth to a lake Diverting the river was one of the most challenging tasks. To create a reservoir capable of holding such an enormous amount of water, the process was carried out in successive phases. Filling the reservoir took years, following a controlled accumulation rate of 10 to 15 billion cubic meters of water per season. This complex operation was constantly monitored, also to address the concerns of downstream countries, particularly Sudan and Egypt, which feared a reduction in river flows. “The water is never held back uncontrollably,” explains engineer Christian Fabio Capitanio. “After the turbines generate energy, the turbined water is released downstream and resumes feeding the river’s course.” SidEbar WEBUILD: A LEADER IN CLEAN ENERGY The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, encompassing the entire complex system of works from dams to power plants, was built by the Webuild Group, a leader in the construction of complex infrastructure and engaged for nearly 120 years in the design and construction of hydroelectric plants and dams. To date, the Group has built 318 plants with a total installed capacity of 53,659 MW, focusing on hydroelectric power, which remains the world’s leading renewable energy source. Between its past and its future, there are major projects like the Yacyretà dam in Argentina, the Rogun dam (currently under construction in Tajikistan), and the Koysha dam (currently under construction in Ethiopia). The hydroelectric projects currently under construction by the Group will enable the installation of 14,000 MW of power and provide clean, low-cost energy to over 23 million people worldwide. These infrastructure projects will be capable of reducing annual CO2 emissions by 13 million tons. 47 The Main Dam is 170 meters high and 1,800 meters long, while the Saddle Dam is 5 km long and 50 meters high The hydroelectric projects currently under construction by the Webuild Group will generate 14,000 MW of power and provide clean, low-cost energy to over 23 million people worldwide • Rogun dam
48 49 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Downstream view of the main dam and the powerhouse on the right bank
50 51 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION The first challenge of the project was therefore to manage the river itself, as the Blue Nile can reach a medium flow rate of 8,000 cubic meters per second during the rainy season. Its diversion was thus the result of both ingenuity and audacity. “We designed a mobile diversion system, which involved shifting the river’s course from one bank to the other as needed,” he continues. “We then excavated, consolidated the foundations, and built the infrastructure step by step.” The technological secrets of the dam Even giants have their secrets. GERD’s secrets reveal the technical and engineering excellence put into the project, from the constant study of the materials used in construction to the sophisticated monitoring systems that, moment by moment, capture the condition of the facility, the water pressure and level, the integrity of the concrete, the functionality of the turbines, and every single aspect of the structure. A unique element is the rollercompacted concrete mix used: advanced research on the mixes, involving world-class experts, significantly extended the concrete’s setting time, with considerable benefits for production and material quality. Internal laboratories, coordinated by specialists, developed a formulation with longer setting times and better mechanical performance. The excellence of the materials used and their durability are now the subject of tests conducted through sophisticated monitoring systems built within the dam, in the intricate network of tunnels running beneath millions of tons of RCC. • Crest of the main dam and the two powerhouses at its base The reservoir formed by the construction of the dams has a linear length of 172 kilometers and a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters of water
CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 53 GERD. LA DIGA DEI RECORD • THE DAM OF RECORDS 52 • RCC test cylinders Antonio Passarani Construction Manager, GERD QR CODE SCAN Sidebar GENESIS OF A WORLD RECORD “The challenge we faced at the start of the project,” he recounts, “was having to produce 10.7 million cubic meters of RCC and place it while diverting the course of the Blue Nile.” In a project of this kind, speed and organization are everything. These qualities reached their peak expression at the end of 2014, just days before New Year’s. “Once production began in 2013,” Passarani continues, “we started tracking the various stages of RCC production, million by million, marking them on a whiteboard in the office. Writing the results in black and white soon became a stimulus to do better.” And indeed, step by step, the construction site refined its organizational model and improved its performance, until the most significant moment. “When the system was already well-oiled,” recounts the Construction Manager, “we set our stopwatch to zero and waited 24 hours to see the result. At dawn on December 28, 2014, after a full day of uninterrupted work, we achieved the world record for RCC placement for a dam.” December 28, 2014. Antonio Passarani, GERD Construction Manager for the Webuild Group, remembers it as if it was today
54 55 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Right-bank powerhouse
57 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 56 Walking through the galleries of the Main Dam, one discovers a series of instruments that analyze every movement of the structure and verify in real-time how it responds to water pressure. These instruments, for example, analyze the integrity of the joints between different concrete blocks and record millimetric shifts in the dam’s structure. Through highly sophisticated pendulums extending from the crest to the base of the dam, the project’s equipment captures every minimal movement. All movements and stresses are not only recorded but also fed into a database housed in the control center, an operational and technological headquarters set up at the Engineering Building office at the base of the dam on the right bank. Here, data is collected, cataloged, and analyzed to verify the condition of the structure in real-time. • Bottom outlet in operation, left-bank powerhouse Sophisticated monitoring systems installed within the structure provide real-time snapshots of the facility’s condition
59 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Construction of the lower part of the main dam Franco Cetrangolo Plant Manager, GERD QR CODE SCAN Sidebar SETTING THE CONSTRUCTION SITE IN MOTION Engines that power vehicles, fuel the water pumping and treatment system for the base camps, and provide energy for every site activity. It is led by an Italian named Franco Cetrangolo, who has been with the Webuild Group for years and is GERD’s Plant Manager. “At peak production,” recounts Cetrangolo, “considering only the most important machines, we exceeded 5,500 assets.” The plant is divided into various sections: concrete production, distribution systems, engines, tires, electrical systems, and vehicle bodywork. “We’re far from everything here,” Cetrangolo continues, “and sometimes getting a part is practically impossible. So we organized ourselves to build what we need on our own.” At peak times, over 1,200 people worked at the plant to ensure the operation of 450 vehicles, including pickups, minibuses, ambulances, and 120 machines, including bulldozers, excavators, and various equipment, giants with operating weights exceeding 60 tons. In the bustling town of GERD, the Plant is the place where every kind of machinery comes to life 58
60 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 61 The beating heart of a changing continent GERD is much more than a dam. It is the symbol of an epochal transformation. A project that has set a nation in motion, creating jobs, energy, and development. Every day at the construction site is a story. A challenge, a discovery, a conquest,” concludes engineer Capitanio. “We built GERD, but above all, we helped instill confidence, future, and identity in a people and a nation.” The result is a structure that has become a source of national pride. • Lorem ipsum color dida The two hydroelectric plants consist of 13 Francis turbines, with a total installed capacity of 5,150 MW and an expected production of 15,700 GWh/year, equivalent to three medium-sized nuclear power plants Machine hall
63 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Concrete specimens Sidebar THE LABORATORY “The laboratory’s mission is, first and foremost, to study, test, and implement all the materials used for the construction of the dams and in all the project’s construction sites.” Amanu Esmetu is the Laboratory Manager at GERD, an Ethiopian who has worked on Webuild Group’s construction sites in Ethiopia for 30 years and leads a team of 230 people. Theirs is a highly complex task, as GERD’s laboratory is responsible for testing all materials before they are used on-site. “As for the concrete,” explains Amanu Esmetu, “we have many deadlines for conducting tests, from 7 days to 365 days. The concrete is prepared in samples of various shapes - cylindrical, prismatic, or cubic- which are kept in large water-filled tanks, with their condition monitored daily in relation to external climate variations.” Testing the cement that will later form the RCC of the Main Dam is just one part of the laboratory’s work, where every material undergoes daily analysis, from steel to water. The laboratory’s mission is to study, test, and implement all the materials that will later be used Amanu Esmetu Laboratory Manager, GERD QR CODE SCAN 62
64 65 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Back view of the main dam and its reservoir
66 67 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Upstream view of the main dam with detail of the closure gates
68 69 CHAPTER 2 | GERD, BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The saddle dam, detail of the concrete face
5,150 MW -–-–-–- Installed capacity GERD BY NUMBERS 15,700 GWh -–-–-–- Annual energy production 1,800 m -–-–-–- Main dam crest length ~10.7 million m3 -–-–-–- Main dam volume 170 m -–-–-–- Main dam height 1.3 million -–-–-–- Tons of CO2/year avoided with the plant in operation Somalia Djibouti Eritrea Sudan Blue Nile South Sudan Kenya ETHIOPIA ADDIS ABABA GERD
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CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE 74 WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION Beyond its technological excellence and its legacy in terms of economic and energy development, the story of GERD is the story of the women and men who took part in the project. Those who conceived it, designed it, built it, and provided all the services that turned a massive construction site into a bustling small town. GERD is also a social enterprise. To build the structure, Webuild created an actual city from nothing: villages, housing camps, services, logistical infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and schools. “When we arrived, there was nothing,” recalls engineer Capitanio. “Today, there is a real community with services, schools, commercial activities, artisans, restaurants, and over 25,000 workers involved in the project, with peaks of up to 10,000 people at a time.” The logistical infrastructure is impressive: three canteens, a club, a swimming pool, soccer and tennis fields, a hospital, two equipped medical clinics, a school, a newly built landing strip, a factory to produce injera, the traditional Ethiopian dish, and satellite internet connections for workers. It all began in 2011, when the first activities started in what was then an uninhabited and inhospitable area. The first step was to create a connection with the rest of the country. For this, the teams were tasked with building a road network to reach the site, a landing strip for quick connections with the capital Addis Ababa, and two bridges to connect the riverbanks, allowing easy movement from one side of the future dam to the other. Alongside the construction of the road network, camps to house up to 10,000 people at a time during peak periods began to take shape. Three different camps were created: the Local Camp and the Senior Camp downstream, respectively for workers and more experienced team leaders, and the Permanent Camp, built on a hill overlooking the dam and the lake, intended to house expatriates and later the plant’s operators. GERD is a social enterprise. Over 25,000 people worked at the GERD construction site, with over 95% of them Ethiopian
76 77 CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION Of the 25,000 people who lived in the camps and participated in the dam’s construction, over 95% were from Ethiopia, particularly from local communities. Alongside the road construction, a water management and treatment facility for the Blue Nile was built. The river’s waters were collected in two large tanks and subjected to a series of treatments before being pumped to the site’s machinery and plants on one hand and to the residences on the other. Water is an essential resource, as is education. Thus, for the children living in the camp with their families during the construction years, a school was organized, with classes taught by teachers ensuring primary education for the youngest. Hospital, clinics, and healthcare for all In such an isolated area, where nature is both a nurturer and a challenge, ensuring healthcare services for the thousands of people working on the site was essential from the start. Given the distance from equipped healthcare centers, Webuild set up a healthcare system that, besides assisting workers, was also open to residents of nearby areas. • The village of Banza The construction site was transformed into a small town with recreational spaces, a school, a hospital, and a food factory
78 79 CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The school inside the camp
80 81 CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION SIDEBAR INJERA FOR ALL Beyond meeting nutritional needs, some foods contribute to defining a people’s identity. In Ethiopia, even before the dish reaches the table, it is the aroma of injera that announces the meal. Injera is much more than a simple food; it is a symbol of community and tradition. The national Ethiopian dish appears as a large, light gray crepe made from teff flour, an ancient grain grown in the country’s highlands. The difficulty of finding high-quality injera in the construction site area prompted Webuild to launch another ambitious project: the creation of an injera factory capable of meeting the site’s needs while ensuring the highest quality standards. The factory opened in 2021, employing 84 people, all Ethiopians, all experts in the various stages of injera preparation, processing, and cooking. “Every day,” explains Hilina Dagne, an employee of GERD’s Administration Office who oversaw the project, “the factory produces an average of over 6,500 injera, with peaks reaching up to 10,000. It is estimated that up to 3 million injera were produced annually. Overseeing all operations are a head chef, the true keeper of the original recipe, and a general supervisor responsible for ensuring the product’s quality.” Injera is much more than a simple food; it is a symbol of community and tradition • The injera factory Hilina Dagne Administration Office, GERD QR CODE SCAN
82 83 CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The injera factory
85 CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 84 A central hospital and two satellite clinics were built. The hospital, with 20 beds, six ambulances, and a staff of 71 people, operates 24/7, with highly specialized medical personnel managing emergencies as well as prevention and consultation for serious diseases like HIV and tuberculosis. The staff also organized vaccination campaigns, working closely with local health authorities to ensure the community’s health. Over the years, all medical centers linked to the GERD project provided free care to thousands of people, with an increasing number of patients and services, including thousands of consultations and laboratory tests for the benefit of workers and communities. Upon completion of the GERD project, all medical facilities built were transferred to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, another significant legacy of the project. • The permanent camp for the workers Upon completion of the GERD project, all medical facilities built were transferred to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health • The hospital
86 87 CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The permanent camp
88 89 CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION
90 91 CHAPTER 3 | ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION
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CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD 94 WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION CAP 2 | 95 There is a remote corner of Africa, hidden among green mountains and deep valleys, where time seems to flow to the rhythm of the river. It is here, in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, that the Blue Nile begins to take its majestic form before bending northward and crossing Sudan. And it is here, in the heart of one of the continent’s most isolated areas, that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) rises. The region stretches along Ethiopia’s western border, over 700 kilometers from the capital Addis Ababa. Once barely accessible, Benishangul-Gumuz was known more for its virgin forests and scattered villages than for any trace of infrastructure. Roads were few, often seasonal, and crossed wild landscapes alternating between plateaus, deep gorges, and alluvial plains. Here, Webuild had to build not only a dam but also a network of communication routes, a landing strip, and logistical centers, redrawing the boundaries of a territory previously on the margins of development. The Blue Nile originates near Lake Tana in these lands, winding through hills covered in lush vegetation. The area is characterized by a humid tropical climate, with intense rainy seasons that feed the river and its tributaries. The vegetation is abundant, with acacia forests, wild coffee plants, ficus trees, banana groves, and areas of shrubby savanna. This biodiversity hosts surprising wildlife: monkeys, baboons, antelopes, crocodiles, a wide variety of tropical birds, and even leopards. The local population consists of a multitude of ethnic groups, each with its own languages, traditions, and customs, from fishermen living off the Nile to gold prospectors panning its banks and goat herders. • View of the Blue Nile The Benishangul-Gumuz region stretches along Ethiopia’s western border, over 700 kilometers from the capital Addis Ababa
97 CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION SIDEBAR IN THE SKIES Captain Panayotis Antipas has been flying over African skies for 30 years. His extensive experience has been at Webuild’s service since 2018, when the Group purchased a Cessna C 208 to establish a direct, safe, and fast connection between the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and the GERD construction site. Since then, the aircraft has primarily transported personnel working on the Group’s sites, both at GERD and Koysha, where another major dam is under construction, significantly reducing travel times. “Now, - recounts Captain Panayotis Antipas - we make three or four trips a week, but at the site’s peak, we ensured up to one trip a day.” Upon arriving at GERD, the aircraft lands on the GERD landing strip, a runway built by the construction site and approved for small, lightweight aircraft, the kind traditionally traveling African skies. “Time is very important for this type of aircraft,” comments the Captain, “because the plane is not pressurized, flies at an altitude not exceeding 4,000 meters, and is thus forced to pass through clouds. For this reason, when we depart from Addis Ababa, we carefully study the weather conditions, and once the weather in flight is verified, we are ready for takeoff.” Panayotis Antipas Captain of the Cessna C 208 QR CODE SCAN 96 Upon arriving at GERD, the aircraft lands on the GERD landing strip, a runway built by the construction site
WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD GERD. THE DAM OF RECORDS 98 The cultivation of maize, sorghum, sesame, and coffee is widespread, while irrigated gardens and small plantations develop near the river. The dam’s presence has brought profound changes: new villages, schools, healthcare facilities, jobs for thousands of people, and infrastructure that did not exist before. The first point of arrival in this mysterious land is the “landing strip,” a runway no longer than a kilometer, accessible only to small, lightweight aircraft. For this reason, Webuild purchased a Cessna aircraft that has been serving the construction site for years, organizing daily flights from Addis Ababa to GERD to transport personnel. Upon landing on the “landing strip,” one boards a pickup truck following the roads that first skirt the Saddle Dam, the 5-kilometer-long secondary dam, and then arrive at the foot of the Main Dam, the main dam dominating the Nile valley. Between July and September, the rains fall heavily, and nature is lush. The pickup crosses the savanna, while curious monkeys watch from the roadside. The Nile is felt first in the air, which becomes more humid and dense, then the pickup crosses one of the two bridges built downstream of the dam to ensure vehicle transit from one side to the other, and the river reveals itself in all its power. Downstream, the waters flow swiftly toward the north, Sudan, and beyond to Egypt; upstream, the concrete wall resembles a spaceship landed from who-knows-where. The pickup continues its journey, passing the camps where workers and expert technicians sleep. Along the roadside, one catches sight of the bank, opened so every worker can have a current account to receive their salary, and a few small markets where drinks, snacks, and other essentials can be purchased. The construction site provides everything else: food in the canteens, care in the clinics and a hospital, and training in dedicated classrooms. 99 The local population consists of a multitude of ethnic groups, each with its own languages, traditions, and customs • The reservoir
101 CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 100 The dam dominates the horizon, while high-voltage cables cross the valley, suspended on towers as tall as buildings, and end at the electrical substation, a grid of lines and towers occupying an area larger than several soccer fields. Here, the energy produced by GERD’s power plants is transformed to the same voltage level before embarking on a long journey to the capital Addis Ababa. In the background lies the Nile valley, and on the horizon, where the outlines of the last mountains stand, Sudan. The border is so close it seems drawn in the sky, giving the region significant geopolitical relevance. Relations between Ethiopia and Sudan have seen alternating seasons of collaboration and tension, partly due to the management of the Nile’s waters. But on the ground, in the construction sites and villages around the dam, cooperation between Ethiopians and Sudanese is daily. The energy GERD will produce will also serve neighboring countries, tying the fate of this wild land to that of an entire region. • The 500 KV electrical substation This is where the long journey of the energy produced by GERD’s hydroelectric plants begins, reaching the capital Addis Ababa
102 103 CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The 500 KV electrical substation
CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 105 GERD. LA DIGA DEI RECORD • THE DAM OF RECORDS 104 Today, Benishangul-Gumuz is no longer just a distant point on Ethiopia’s map. It is the beating heart of a transformation that starts with water and leads to light. Where there was once silence and distance, there are now turbines, jobs, and connections. And a river, the Blue Nile, is no longer just a witness to nature’s wonders but also to human achievements and their relentless desire to rewrite the future.
106 107 CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The saddle dam and the airstrip
108 109 CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The river diversion
110 111 CHAPTER 4 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Gated spillway
CHAPTER 5 112 WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION
CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 114 CAP 2 | 115 • Addis Ababa Webuild has completed 30 projects in Ethiopia, many of which are essential for transforming the country into a strategic hub for clean energy in Africa Webuild’s history in Ethiopia began in the late 1950s, in a context profoundly different from today’s. At the time, Ethiopia was a nation seeking to break free from a long period of infrastructural backwardness, building its first significant projects, starting with roads, bridges, and small water distribution plants. From the outset, the country and its political leadership developed a longterm vision that saw infrastructure as a driver for economic, social, and cultural growth. Webuild has been a leader and supporter of that vision, putting its expertise and engineering excellence at the service of major projects capable of opening a path to the future for the country. To date, Webuild has completed 30 projects in Ethiopia, almost all in the hydroelectric energy sector, essential for transforming the country into a strategic hub for clean energy in Africa.
116 117 CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • Gibe III Hydropower Project
CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION GERD. THE DAM OF RECORDS 118 119 GERD and Koysha are the most recent in a long history of dams and hydroelectric plants built to ensure energy independence for the country • Koysha dam Koysha, the new dam on the Omo River In southwestern Ethiopia, along the banks of the Omo River, the Webuild Group is engaged in building another major project destined to usher in a new era for the country: the Koysha dam, the second largest hydropower project in Ethiopia after GERD. Like GERD, Koysha is an RCC (rollercompacted concrete) dam, 190 meters high, with a crest length of about 1 kilometer and a reservoir that will reach 6 billion cubic meters of water. The project includes the installation of six 300 MW Francis turbines for a total capacity of 1,800 MW, capable of generating approximately 6,460 GWh/ year, resulting in a reduction of one million tons of CO2. Once operational, the plant will significantly contribute to Ethiopia’s goal of increasing its generation capacity from 5,300 MW in 2024 to over 17,000 by 2037. The additional production provided by Koysha will allow Ethiopia to reduce its internal energy deficit and strengthen its capacity to export energy to neighboring countries (Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan).
CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION CAP 6 | 120 121 • Gibe III during the completion of the spillway and the ongoing reservoir impounding The Gibe system Koysha is part of a complex and impressive hydroelectric system built along the Omo River. Here, the Group has designed and constructed a sequence of projects: GilgelGibe I, Gibe II, Gibe III, and now Koysha. Together, these plants form an integrated system that ensures continuity in energy production and distribution in the south of the country. Among these, Gibe III is undoubtedly the most significant, one of Ethiopia’s most important dams, capable—at the time of its inauguration—of increasing the country’s energy production by 85%. Upon its completion in December 2016, the dam was also the tallest RCC dam in the world, reaching 250 meters.
122 CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 123 • Beles multipurpose project The Beles model In northwestern Ethiopia, Webuild created another major project: the Beles Multipurpose Project. Completed in 2010, at the time of its inauguration, Beles was the country’s largest underground hydroelectric plant. With an almost 12 km-long intake tunnel, a power plant carved into the rock, and a 7 km-long tailrace tunnel, the project required advanced technologies and high-level expertise. The plant, with 460 MW of installed capacity, was designed to harness the waters of Lake Tana and return them to the Beles River, with an average annual electricity production of about 1,720 GWh.
125 CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION 124 Water and urban resilience Webuild’s history in Ethiopia is also a story of potable water. Between the 1960s and 1990s, the Group built critical infrastructure for Addis Ababa, such as the Legadadi dam. Today, the treated waters in the Legadadi reservoir travel approximately 30 kilometers to reach the capital, where they represent an important source of water supply for the city. The reservoir has a capacity of 40 million cubic meters, while the treatment plant can process up to 50,000 cubic meters of water per day. The treated waters in the Legadadi reservoir travel 30 kilometers to reach Addis Ababa and represent an important source of water supply for the capital
126 127 CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The saddle dam
128 129 CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The main dam
130 131 CHAPTER 5 | WEBUILD IN ETHIOPIA: 70 YEARS SERVING THE COUNTRY WEBUILD | THE DREAM OF A NATION • The main dam and reservoir
Project coordination Corporate Identity, Communication and Institutional Affairs, Webuild Group Credits Webuild Image Library Photography Filippo Vinardi for Webuild Visual concept PRC - Promozione, Ricerche, Consulenze Print PRC - Promozione, Ricerche, Consulenze Publication September 2025 www.webuildgroup.com www.webuildvalue.com Follow us
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