Gilgel Gibe I Dam

7°49′53″N 37°19′18″E / 7.83139°N 37.32167°E / 7.83139; 37.32167PurposePowerStatusOperationalConstruction began1988Opening date2004; 20 years ago (2004)Owner(s)Ethiopian Electric PowerDam and spillwaysType of damEmbankment, rock-fillImpoundsOmo RiverHeight40 m (130 ft)Length1,700 m (5,600 ft)ReservoirTotal capacity917,000,000 m³ (743,000 acre⋅ft)Active capacity717,000,000 m³ (581,000 acre⋅ft)Gilgel Gibe I Power StationCoordinates7°54′31.88″N 37°22′24.33″E / 7.9088556°N 37.3734250°E / 7.9088556; 37.3734250Commission date2004TypeConventional, diversionTurbines3 x 61.3 MW Francis-typeInstalled capacity184 MW

The Gilgel Gibe I Dam is a rock-filled embankment dam on the Gilgel Gibe River in Ethiopia. It is located about 57 km (35 mi) northeast of Jimma in Oromia Region. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production. The Gilgel Gibe I hydroelectric powerplant has an installed capacity of 184 MW, enough to power over 123,200 households.^[1] The dam is 1,700 m (5,600 ft) long and 40 m (130 ft) tall. Construction on the dam began in 1988 but work was halted in 1994. In 1995 construction restarted with a new construction firm. The power station was commissioned in 2004.^[2]

Water from the dam is diverted through a 9.2 km (5.7 mi) long tunnel to an underground power station downstream. After power generation, the water is discharged back into the Gilgel Gibe River to flow downstream northwards for roughly 2 km, only to enter a 26 km (16 mi) long tunnel through a mountain ridge to an underground power station (Gilgel Gibe II Power Station) at the lower-lying Omo River.