In an interview with Reuters Mohamed Hassan Ahmed al Hadari, Deputy Head of the Dam Implementation Unit, said that two units would be operational by November with the capability of generating 250 MW of power. Once the project is fully operational it should produce about 1,250 MW.
"Work is about 85% completed in all areas and we expect that it will first start producing electricity in November this year and will be completed by November 2009," Al hadari told Reuters.
The project has faced a bit of controversy from local residents and archeologists in the region. Residents who have been displaced because their homes were in the path of construction say they have not been compensated properly. Archeologists have complained because they were trying to remove artifacts from the areas that will become flooded once the dam is in place.
The government claims that the area is now empty of artifacts and that area residents had received compensation consisting of a new 2-bedroom house, a living room and a kitchen, and compensation of 500 Sudanese pounds per palm tree they owned. Only a few communities were left to be assessed, the officials said.