A second turbine is expected to come online on 15 September 2011.
The dam’s reservoir, constructed on the Neshi River by China-based Gezhouba Group (CGGC), can hold 448 million cubic metres of water.
The Chinese Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank provided 85% of the funding while the remaining 15% was secured by the Ethiopian government.
US based Montgomery, Watson & Harza Consultancy received a $5m contract to serve as the consultant on the project.
The project also includes a 241km transmission line installed by EEPCo estimated to cost ETB445m ($25.8m) which was obtained through a separate loan from the Ex-Im Bank.
The electricity generated by the Amerti-Neshi Project and the 134MW Finchaa Hydroelectric Power Project will be plugged to the national power grid for distribution, according to Addisfortune.com.
