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The Ethiopian Roads Authority is expected to submit
to the Prime Minister’s office the final action plan
of the Universal Road Access Programme, which aims
to create road connection for all kebeles in the
country.
The programme was developed by the central committee
of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic
Front (EPRDF) to provide road access to all kebeles
in Ethiopia. The proposition was made at the eighth
general assembly the ruling party held in Hawassa,
the seat of the Southern Regional State, early in
2008.
ERA, assigned with the task of developing the action
plan which it had been working until now, would
realize that objective in seven years. The Authority
had brought the programme to the floor at the annual
meeting of road sector stakeholders held in Hawassa
on December 25 and 26, 2008.
All regional roads authorities, with the exception
of the Addis Abeba City Roads Authority (AACRA) are
said to have given their inputs for the programme
during the meeting.
“Now we have finalized the action manager of plan,”
said Bekele Negussie, Plan and Programme division
at ERA.
Once the action plan of the universal access
programme is approved by the Prime Minister,
implementation is expected to begin within two
years, with completion anticipated over the
following five years.
ERA does not expect the kebele roads to be handling
much traffic, hence preferring soil treatment
technology, instead of the usual asphalt and gravel
roads, and narrowing the roads down from seven to
four metres.
At least one foreign company interested in such
technology has visited Ethiopia during the past year
promoting the idea of using enzyme treated soil for
road development and seeking a contract accordingly.
It was using the opportunity created by the second
Africa Bio-energy Conference held in Addis Abeba on
June 16 to18, 2009. Dubbed by the organizers as
Africa’s largest deal making conference, it intended
to create contract opportunities for bio-energy
companies.
The conference, honoured by a speech from Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi, was also graced by Levine
Green Energies - one of the participants of the
conference. The new American company was established
by Bill Levine, son of American Professor Donald
Levine, who has had close contact with three
generations of Ethiopian leaders. Bill Levine was
accompanied by his father, who intended to introduce
his son to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other
officials.
Levine, who hopes that his technology of treating
soil with a special enzyme would make good roads, is
said to have met Meles, as well as Arkebe Okubay,
state minister of Works and Urban Development, and
Bekele Negussie. It is not clear, however, what role
Levine’s and other foreign or local companies will
play in the project.
All of that will be confirmed after the action plan
has been approved, Bekele says and continued that
private sector participation is likely for the
supply of chemicals, at least.
It was indicated at the ERA conference in Hawassa
that the Authority would establish a separate office
for the project. The project office would provide
training to the micro-business enterprises and
private contractors that would be involved in the
project, according to a draft proposal produced
during the meeting. The same document also indicated
that the roads would have uniform standard, design,
surveying and construction technologies, and
contract administration. |
