Mendefera, Debarwa, Dekemhare and other small towns to get new drinking water supply from Gergera Dam

Mai Measlam Dam ("Gergera Dam") is the largest dam in Eritrea. Photo credit: Mhretab Tedlla

By CDE

It is massive, appears well-built, and is part of the national strategy and policy of sustainable development that is financed by the government and built by Eritrean engineers without foreign aids.

The Gergera Dam (May Mslam) is one of the largest projects undertaken by the Government of Eritrea, representing a considerable investment toward socio-economic growth and sustainable development.

Costing only half a billion Nakfa (US$32 million) to complete it, the dam construction began in mid-2011 and finalized by 2014. Some irregularities in the construction were discovered in between due to a shortage of supplies and labor; however, only after two years from its formal beginning, the majority of the task (approximately 75%) was done in about only 6 months.

The dam has a 35 meter diameter at the base, with a 7 meter depth and stands 38 meter above the ground, and stretched nearly 750 meters long.

Four rivers feed the dam: from Guh Chea, from the Tslma villages, from Adi Halo, and from around the Emba Teqera area. Collectively, these cover an area of 431 sq. km until the last point of the dam, but overall the dam covers 3.7sq.km, and currently holds around 33 million mm cubed of water and can reach up to 50 million mm cubed. In addition to the rivers, the dam can hold significant supplies of rainwater (extending up to approximately three years).

The local Segen Construction Company provided the technical management, design and supply for the dam, and was joined in construction by military forces, students, and citizens engaged in community-development summer programs from all over the nation. Importantly, the dam serves to reflect how Eritreans, from all walks of life, have been engaged in promoting development and working to tangibly improve the standard of life across the country.

The main aim of the dam is to support the surrounding agricultural areas and improve the livelihoods of people living in the neighboring towns. Currently, a pilot project is in progress within the Halhale and Tslma agricultural fields, using water supplied directly from the dam. As well, the dam will help contribute to people’s daily lives by supplying clean water for the towns of Dekemhare, Dubarwa, Mendefera and other small towns.

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