Ethiopia mulls exploitation of hydropower potential

July 10, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopian government is studying to exploit economically hydropower potential of more than 30,000 MW, but the vast majority of its domestic energy need is fulfilled by wood fuel and animal dung, a government official lamented on Monday.

At a three-day workshop on the country’s hydropower development, Adugna Jebessa, state minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, said the government is undertaking feasibility studies of a number of hydropower projects, including north Ethiopia’s Baro and Karadobi hydropower projects, with assistance from Norway.

Norway pledged to grant 7 million U.S. dollars for the feasibility studies of the projects.

According to the present feasibility study, the Baro project consists of two power plants operating in a cascade with an installed capacity of 896 MW. While the exact sizing of Karadobi is not yet clear, the preliminary estimate indicates a plant with an installed capacity of 1,000 to 1,600 MW.

The study includes studies of the power market and transmission system, as a production increase in Ethiopia represents attractive opportunities for power sales to neighboring Egypt and Sudan.

The hydropower projects will also reduce the country’s dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels, said Adugna.

Despite Ethiopia’s huge hydroelectric potential, the exploitation rate is about only two percent, according to official data.

(ST)