The Stream, January 1: Ethiopia Nears Completion of Major Hydropower Dam

The Global Rundown

Ethiopia will almost double its energy output when the new Gibe 3 dam comes online this year. Floods triggered by a tropical storm are hitting the Philippines, and Sri Lanka’s disaster warning and response systems are still a work in progress. West Virginia residents are still wary of their water a year after a major chemical spill, India is trying to improve access to toilets in rural areas, and climate change threatens potatoes in Peru’s Andes.

“If it takes a crisis and the death of two young girls to get the systems to work, then this needs to be a wake up call.”–Yamini Aiyar, director of New Delhi-based Accountability Initiative, on India’s efforts to improve access to toilets in rural areas and protect women from violence. (Bloomberg)

By The Numbers

1,870 megawatts Capacity of Ethiopia’s $1.8 billion Gibe 3 hydropower dam project on the Omo River. Expected to start generating power in June, the dam will almost double the country’s energy production. Reuters

53 people Killed in floods and landslides in the Philippines following tropical storm Jangmi. BBC

$12 million Amount a West Virginia water utility has spent in response to the chemical spill that hit Charleston last January. The utility says customers are still wary of drinking the water a year later. WV Metro News

On The Radar

Changing rainfall patterns and temperatures in the Peruvian Andes are threatening the most diverse potato crops in the world and raising food security concerns in Quechua Indian communities. IPS

Early warning and emergency response systems in Sri Lanka have improved since the 2004 tsunami disaster but still leave many people vulnerable. IPS

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek