Gilgel Gibe I Dam

Gilgel Gibe I Dam
Location of Gilgel Gibe I Dam in Ethiopia
Country	Ethiopia
Location	Jimma, Oromia Region
Coordinates
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1988
Opening date	2004 (2004)
Owner(s)	Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment, rock-fill
Impounds	Omo River
Height	40 m (130 ft)
Length	1,700 m (5,600 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity	917,000,000 m3 (743,000 acre·ft)
Active capacity	717,000,000 m3 (581,000 acre·ft)
Power station
Name	Gilgel Gibe I Power Station
Coordinates
Commission date	2004
Type	Conventional, diversion
Turbines	3 x 61.3 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	184 MW

The Gilgel Gibe I Dam is a rock-filled embankment dam on the Omo River in Ethiopia. It is located about 57 km (35 mi) northeast of Jimma in Oromia Region. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and it diverts water through a 9.2 km (5.7 mi) long tunnel to an underground power station downstream. It has an installed capacity of 184 MW, enough to power over 123,200 households. The dam is 1,700 m (5,600 ft) long and 40 m (130 ft) tall. Construction on the dam began in 1998 but work was halted in 1994. In 1995 construction restarted with a new construction firm. The power station was commissioned in 2004.

See also

• Gilgel Gibe II Power Station
• Gilgel Gibe III Dam