ETHIOPIA – Addis Ababa Abattoir Enterprise (AAAE) has granted a consortium of six firms the mandate to oversee the construction of a US$91.2million abattoir in Nefasilk Laphto District, Ethiopia, reports Addis Fortune.

The firms, comprising of both local and international companies will supervise the construction of the slaughterhouse with capacity of 8,000 cattle and 21,000 sheep and goats slaughtered within 16 hours along its five slaughtering lines.

France’s multimillion company Artelia Batiment was given lead in consultancy work while Industrie Sefial France and Bigen Africa to manage construction and machinery installation and commissioning process respectively.

According to Degamlak Dender, the project manager for the new slaughterhouse, the local firms will work in collaboration with the international companies to ensure the project is a success.

The local firms included companies Yerer Engineering, Tropics Consulting Engineers and Get Consult Architect and were to offer architectural, environmental and water engineering expertise.

The consortium will source US$87.5 from French Development Agency (AFD) while the remaining amount will be provided through government funding.

The project, which is planned to be completed in four years’ time, lies on a 20-hectare land near Bole International Airport, report.

The abattoir’s location has caused controversy for some time due to its proximity the country;s major airport, Bole International as it would attract birds which would hinder smooth landing of aeroplanes, according to critics.

However, the Enterprise will now build a closed slaughterhouse after receiving approval from Ethiopian Civil Aviation Enterprise.

The construction follows the approval of the loan agreement between Ethiopia and the French Development Agency (AFD) by the Ethiopian Parliament.

“The project has been approved by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Enterprise”, said Ataklti GebreMichael, the Enterprise’s communication head.

“The project management team has visited Ireland and Botswana to model slaughterhouses built close to airports.”

Successful relocation and modernization of the Addis Abeba Abattoirs Enterprise would result to an abattoir that will ensure by-products and blood processing, biogas power generation, offal processing and waste-water and well water treatment.

As soon as the new abattoir becomes operational, Addis Ababa city administration plan to cease the activities of the old one which slaughters 1,600 cattle and 1,000 sheep and goats a day.