Gilgel Gibe III

hydroelectric project, Ethiopia

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July 19, 2026

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The Gilgel Gibe III is a hydroelectric project located on the Omo River in southwestern Ethiopia. This dam, completed in 2016, stands at 243 meters (797 feet) and is classified as a gravity dam. It was under construction when the Gilgel Gibe II station was inaugurated in 2010, which has a capacity of over 400 megawatts. The Gilgel Gibe III project has faced criticism due to concerns about its potential negative effects on downstream communities and the environment.12

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Omo River
An additional hydroelectric project, the Gilgel Gibe III, was under construction at the time of the inauguration. The Gilgel Gibe III project has generated controversy, as critics have argued that it will have a significant detrimental impact on the communities and environment downstream of the dam.
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An additional hydroelectric project, the Gilgel Gibe III, was under construction at the time of the inauguration. The Gilgel Gibe III project has generated controversy, as critics have argued that it will have a significant detrimental impact on the communities and environment downstream of the dam.
Read More