The Yayo Fertilizer Factory is being planted in Yayo District, Ilu Ababora Zone of the Oromia State on an area of 54 thousand square meters. Several activities are being undertaken to construct two Urea and one DAP fertilizer factories in the district. The fertilizer project which has a capacity to produce 300,000 tons of fertilizer per year is well in progress. It aims to hold foreign currency that has been expending to buy fertilizer from abroad. Among the 11 sub-construction sites, over 2,000 workers have been making significant efforts for the realization of the project. The activities of the project have been carried out with no reluctance.
Mesfine Balcha has been working as a senior engineer in Urea plant unit for four months. The writer of this piece approached him while he was measuring to determine accurate surveying. “ In order to finalize within a year, we are working day and night with no hesitation. Since I am not familiar with the mega projects so far, participating in this project has helped me to gain considerable experiences.” he told the writer.
He further stated that the project helped him to develop his knowledge and expertise in the area; moreover, he believes that the reputation he would gain from the project could assist him to become competitive in the sector.
Yasin Dida is serving as a daily laborer in one of the sub-construction area. He said, “After completing my secondary education, I could not get job for about ten years. Fortunately, because of this project, I am enjoying the opportunity of working at my birth place, Yayo Town.” According to him, he was highly dependent on coffee plantation that cannot meet his basic needs. However, these days, he is earning 40 Birr per day and is able to meet the needs.
“With the money I earn, I try to fulfill my basic needs and reduce my dependence on my parents for my needs; even sometimes I provide them,” Yasin added. He will work hard to make his livelihood better in the future. He observed that misunderstanding of the value of this national project by some youths who have been showing a tendency to hesitate working for the project robs them the benefits.
“The project has been carried out for three consecutive years with a total capital of 11 billion Birr. So far, though the project is delayed due to various bottlenecks, presently, 28.8 per cent of the total work has been completed. Parallel to this, some segments of equipment that are necessary for the construction of the project were produced locally while the remaining equipment is imported from abroad,” Chemical Industry Corporation Director General Teshome Lemma told to this reporter.
According to him, parallel to the construction of fertilizer factory, thermal power and coal mining projects are being undertaken. Explaining the possible constraints the project faces, he said, “Shortage of loans, huge excavation works, compensation payment, wetness of the area, delay of machinery and equipment from abroad are taking the lion share for the delay of the project.”
Since it is the first fertilizer factory, the project has been serving to build local capacity by transferring modern technology. Understanding knowledge and technology gap, the general construction works have been carrying out by local contractor named Metals and Engineering Corporation. Since its inception, the corporation has been making various effort to drown lesson from well experienced countries. So far, the corporation has strong attachment with Korean professionals in preparing design of the project. And the Addis Ababa University took the responsibility of consulting the project work. The construction of the factory will be extending until the end of 2016. The Corporation has been making strong follow up via sending professionals to project site.
Moreover, the Corporation took the initiative to engage itself in this broad project and discharging its national responsibility just as it has been involving in other mega projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, sugar factories, etc. “The Corporation is serving as a major contractor and designer of the project under the ownership of the Ethiopian Chemical Corporation,” stated Captain Engineer Bayabil Yihune, Yayo Chemical and Coal Project General Manager.
Furthermore, it has been carrying out several activities like designing, supplying equipment and machinery and the like. These days, 90 per cent of the design and engineering tasks have been completed. The civil work has been carried out by first level sub-contractor Tekele-Beirhan Ambaye Construction PLC. The 42 per cent of the civil work will be completed within four months. In connection to this, machinery and equipment production, procurement tasks have also been carried out. Some of the equipment that is necessary for factory erection
and installation works can be produced making us of local capacity. Besides, the corporation has also identified materials that are not available at the local market and ship them from abroad. The corporation has planned to do factory erection and installation after the shipment is finalized. The construction work for thermal power plant, design and engineering work for coal production has been carried out.
Geba is a river that flows near the factory and various activities have been taking place to utilize the river as an input for the factory. Because there has been better integration of stakeholders, the corporation has been working to complete the project by the end of 2016 and make fertilizer supply ready by 2016/17.
Since the inception of the construction, over 3,000 temporary and permanent jobs have been created for the citizens. For these job opportunities Tekle-Birhan Ambaye Construction PLC played considerable role. When the factory is completed its installation of the machinery, more job opportunities will be available to citizens as there will be the need for more task force. So far, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled daily laborers are benefiting from the project.
The Metals and Engineering Corporation encourages local contractors to recruit workers from the local community. Besides, the sub-contractor outsourced some minor works to 12 different associations which are organized under micro and small-scale enterprise schemes. When the project began, as the site was covered with thick coffee plants, the corporation had to pay compensation to the farmers and this took some time to complete.
“All stakeholders should play their role for the accomplishment of the project. We are now discussing with stakeholders to better handle the job which was being carried out. Parallel to this, electric light installation works have been showing great progress. We are thinking of working more by assigning workers in double working shifts. As the project has taken huge amount of budget, payment should be released as per the agreement with contractors. Now we are making relentless efforts to complete underground work before the rainy season comes,” said the Engineer.
The factory is expected to create job opportunities for 35 thousand people at completion. According to the Manager, the dry byproduct of the factory would be used to produce coal and other construction materials. The factory would have a capacity to produce 300,000 tons of fertilizer per year and is expected to save much foreign currency.
[TheEthiopianHerald]