Addis Ababa Initiates Modernization of Sewerage System

On Tuesday January 30 2024, with the help of $145 million financing from World Bank, Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) signed a contract with CGCOC, a construction contractor, to initiate the construction of an Eastern Catchment Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project will bring significant benefits to over 1.2 million residents of the city particularly those in sub-cities such as Yeka, Bole, and Lemi Kura. This construction is expected to be completed within three years.

A modern sewerage disposal system is essential infrastructure for a rapidly expanding city like Addis Ababa, which is experiencing significant growth in population. The city administration has been actively engaged in improving the sewerage disposal system by focusing on the construction of wastewater treatment plants and increasing the number of customers connected to the sewerage line. Engineer Zerihun Abate, General Manager of Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority, reported that currently, Addis Ababa’s wastewater treatment plants has a combined treatment capacity of 190,000 cubic meters per day, a substantial increase from 70,000 cubic meters per day just five years ago.

The signing of this project has significant impact in the sewerage disposal of the city. The Eastern Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction project is a design, build and operate project, which has 104-thousand-meter cube per day treatment capacity. The Wastewater treatment plant will be constructed by a Chinese company named CGCOC.

The World Bank country director to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan Mr. Ousmane Dione complemented Addis Ababa on embarking on this landmark project and noted the support of The World Bank to meet this critical milestone.  Mayor Adanech Abiebie extended heartfelt gratitude to the World Bank for their contribution to various sectors of the city and reiterated city’s administration’s commitment to serving the city diligently and fulfilling the promise to make Addis Ababa as beautiful and livable as its namesake.