The state-owned Ethiopian Electric Power Office will initially commence electricity generation from one of the 10 turbines installed at the project, Bloomberg reported.
This will be followed by the commissioning of a turbine every month. However, the commissioning of the remaining turbines will be based on the amount of rainfall in the reservoir.
Said to be the largest hydropower plant in the country, Gibe III will have a total installed capacity of around 1,870MW.
The electricity generated at the project will be supplied to nascent manufacturing industries and the surplus electricity will be sold to neighboring countries.
According to Ethiopian officials, Gibe III will also regulate water flows to end annual flooding in the southwestern South Omo region. It will supply water for downstream irrigation projects throughout the year, besides generating power.
China-based Dongfang Electric Corporation has completed the electro-mechanical works of the Gibe III project.
