Tekezé Dam
title: "Tekezé Dam" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["dams-completed-in-2009", "dams-in-ethiopia", "dams-in-the-nile-basin", "reservoirs-in-ethiopia", "tigray-region", "atbarah-river", "21st-century-architecture-in-ethiopia"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekezé_Dam" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox dam"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Tekeze Dam |
| image | Tekeze reservoir.jpg |
| image_caption | Tekeze Reservoir, seen from the dam |
| name_official | Tekeze Dam |
| location_map | Ethiopia |
| coordinates | |
| country | Ethiopia |
| location | Tigray Region, Ethiopia |
| status | O |
| construction_began | 1999 |
| opening | February 2009 |
| owner | Ethiopian Electric Power |
| dam_type | A |
| dam_crosses | Tekeze River |
| res_capacity_total | 9.293 km3 |
| dam_length | 2329 ft |
| dam_height | 607 ft |
| cost | $360 million |
| plant_turbines | 4 x 75 MW |
| plant_capacity | 300 MW |
| :: |
| name = Tekeze Dam | image = Tekeze reservoir.jpg | image_caption = Tekeze Reservoir, seen from the dam | name_official = Tekeze Dam | location_map = Ethiopia | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = | coordinates = | country = Ethiopia | location = Tigray Region, Ethiopia | status = O | construction_began = 1999 | opening = February 2009 | demolished = | owner = Ethiopian Electric Power | dam_type = A | dam_crosses = Tekeze River | res_name = | res_capacity_total = 9.293 km3 | dam_length = 2329 ft | dam_height = 607 ft | dam_width_base = | cost = $360 million | res_tidal_range = | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_turbines = 4 x 75 MW | plant_capacity = 300 MW | plant_annual_gen = | extra =
Tekezé Dam is a double-curvature arch dam located between Amhara and Tigray regions of Ethiopia. It is situated on the Tekezé River, a tributary of the Nile that flows through one of the deepest canyons in the world.
Overview
CWGS was contracted to build the Tekezé Dam. The hydroelectric project was completed in February 2009. Its final cost was $360 million, which was $136 million over budget. The dam was Ethiopia's largest public works project. The dam helped to reduce power shortages as Ethiopia's power demand increases.
At the time of its completion, the 188 m Tekezé Dam was Africa's largest double-curvature arch dam. The resulting reservoir is 105 km2 large and it has a capacity of 9.3 billion m3 of water.
Tekeze Power Station
The powerhouse contains four 75 MW turbines, generating 300 MW of electricity. A 105 km transmission line connects it to the national grid at Mekelle.
References
References
- (17 November 2009). "Tekeze project inaugurated in Ethiopia". International Water Power & Dam Construction.
- (11 May 2009). "Hydro power in Ethiopia - the staged construction of Tekeze Arch Dam". International Water Power & Dam Construction.
- [https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/8/2237 ANNYS, Sofie; GHEBREYOHANNES, Tesfaalem; NYSSEN, Jan. Impact of hydropower dam operation and management on downstream hydrogeomorphology in semi-arid environments (Tekeze, Northern Ethiopia). Water, 2020, 12.8: 2237.]
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