The decision to give the electro-mechanical work for the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to the Metals & Engineering Corporation (MetEC) has been consequential for the country, despite its good intentions in developing domestic capabilities, Seleshi Bekele (PhD), minister of Water, Irrigation & Energy, told an audience at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Engineering is a science and not about good intentions, according to the Minister, who spoke at a seminar organised by the Institute for Strategic Affairs (ISA), a federal agency run by Hallelujah Lulie.
The lack of readiness by MetEC to complete the job at the time led the country to lose up to a billion dollars in potential energy export revenues; transmission lines not operating; claims made by the contractor amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars; and the current gridlock in negotiations with the downstream countries, Seleshi said.
