(Ecofin Agency) - The Gibe III hydropower dam in Ethiopia will be commissioned this Saturday, Dec. 17.

The 1870 MW infrastructure which has 10 turbines, generating 187 MW each, was developed by Italian Salini Impregilo. Construction took nine years and produced a 243m-long dam with a reservoir of 15 billion cubic meters. It cost €1.5 billion of which the Ethiopian government provided 40% while remaining 60% came from Exim Bank China.

Azeb Asnake, executive director of Ethiopian Electric Power said the plant would not be at full throttle once online due to the water level in its reservoirs. Truly, the dam currently generates 900 MW, but this output should increase gradually.

With Gibe III coming online, Ethiopia’s total production capacity now stands at 4200 MW. Power produced at the dam will help reduce the power deficit induced by the El Nino weather phenomenom.

Gwladys Johnson