Ethiopia to export electric power to Sudan and Djibouti

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

December 13, 2007 (MEKELLE) — Ethiopia will begin exporting electricity to neighboring Sudan and Djibouti by 2010, after its new series of hydroelectric power projects underway get accomplished.

Recently, Tekeze hydroelectric dam construction in Mekelle, which is run by 3 Chinese companies, has announced that, its project is nearing completion.

“82% of the construction is completed; the plant will begin generating 300 megawatts of electric power in 2008″ says director of the plant – Engineer Oweys Ibrahim.

The 188 meter high of the major concert dam which will be the biggest water reservoir in Africa next to one in Lesheto will be capable of accumulating 9.3 billion cubic meters of water during completion.

Some 1,180 MW will be added to Ethiopia’s grid by early 2009, when the 3 major hydroelectric power projects now under way across the nation come functional.

Currently, Ethiopia generates 800MW of power which covers to only 20% of its 80 million populations.

The other two hydro electric power projects under construction, Anabeles and Gilgel Gibe will have a potential of generating 460MW and 420MW respectively,after their expected accomplishment by 2009 comes to end.

According to Ethiopia ministry for mines and Energy, Ethiopia will export electric power supply to Sudan and Djibouti by 2010 and to Kenya by 2011 when the ambitions strategy goes according to schedule.

The massive power expansion under the motto of ” empowering Ethiopia in to a new millennium” has targeted primary to scale up electric power demand of Ethiopians to 50% under a total cost of 100 billion Ethiopian birr, by the end of 2009.

(ST)