It has been announced that work is underway to restore degraded areas around the Koysha Hydropower Project construction site to their former natural state, according to Gizachew Dessalegn, the project's Environmental and Social Affairs Planning Manager.
The manager stated that the project is carrying out environmental and social affairs work based on the recommendations of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment study and the Site Rehabilitation operational system and plan.
Accordingly, he said that various areas that were excavated for project construction inputs and where residual products were accumulated are being restored to their natural state in accordance with the study and operational system.
The project has established a dedicated work team and nursery station and is carrying out rehabilitation work as a daily activity alongside the construction work.
He further explained that the work is being carried out by planting indigenous seedlings suitable for the local landscape and climate, and "Vetiver," a grass scientifically proven to prevent soil erosion, is also being used.
Gizachew affirmed that the work of restoring other remaining areas damaged by the project, including areas where various machinery and workshops were located, will continue to be strengthened.
The manager mentioned that the project is making its mark by actively participating in the country's annual Green Legacy initiative to strengthen environmental protection work and by providing the seedlings and grasses it cultivates at the site to local farmers and administrations.
Gizachew explained that the project has carried out numerous corporate social responsibility activities to address the lack of basic infrastructure in the area, benefiting the local community in sectors such as roads, potable water, education, and health.
For his part, Yihenew Chekol, the environmental engineer at the project's contractor, the 'Webuild' company, stated that in addition to the ongoing site rehabilitation work, focus is being placed on waste and residual product disposal to protect the environment from air pollution.
He also said that the project has implemented various operational systems to protect the area from pollution.
He explained that an operational system has been established where water used for washing vehicles and machinery and from service activities, which contains oils and oil-based chemicals, is passed through a machine that separates and filters the oil from the water so that the water can be reused, preventing it from polluting the environment.
Furthermore, information obtained from Ethiopian Electric Power indicates that samples are taken to confirm whether residual waste generated during concrete pouring is polluting the environment, and if it is harmful, it is treated using a scientific method before being discharged.
It was stated that the rehabilitation work will contribute to protecting the local ecosystem and preventing the artificial lake from being filled with sediment in the future, thereby ensuring that the dam can provide its intended service properly.