Construction of UAE-funded Hassan Dam in Yemen to start soon

Sana'a - Oct 24, 2010 (WAM)- Construction of Hassan Dam, a major water project in the Province of Abyan and funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development at US$98.6 million, will commence within the next few weeks, a senior Yemeni official has announced. The project is part of a Dh2.385 billion (US$650 million) grant offered by the Government of Abu Dhabi to the Yemeni Government to finance sustainable socio-economic development projects that are to be managed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).
Eng. Ahmed Al Ushla, Undersecretary for Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, said the water project will make a qualitative leap in the agricultural sector in the Province and improve the food situation in Yemen in general.
''The dam is one of the key strategic projects that will boost agricultural production from cereals, fruits, vegetables, fodder and animal wealth and help the country meet local market demand and increase Yemen's exports,'' he said, noting that the project is 80 per cent financed by ADFD and 20 per cent by the Government of Yemen. ''The dam will irrigate 10,000 hectares, benefiting directly about 13,000 families,'' he said.
The Dam will have a capacity of 20 million cubic metres and the scope of work includes constructing the dam's concrete wall, pools of water, energy facilities and main irrigation channels. – Emirates News Agency, WAM