Ethiopia’s Electric Power Export Growing – Minister

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Ethiopia’s effort to create power integration in Eastern Africa consolidates its economic benefits and the capacity to generate power, Alemayehu Tegenu, Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister, has said.

The Minister said the power integration not only strengthens the relations among the countries, but also increases the foreign currency earning of Ethiopia.

As a result, the country has earned over 32 million USD during the past nine months, the minister disclosed.

The mega power projects Ethiopia has been building and the growing power demand of the countries in the region shows that the benefits Ethiopia gets from those would grow continuously, Alemayehu elaborated.

Beyond economic benefits, the power integration effort would have pivotal role in stabilizing the region and in strengthening the political and social relationships of the countries, he said.
Due to the above considerations, Ethiopia is contributing its part for the strengthening of power integration, he added.

Currently, Ethiopia provides 100 megawatts of electricity to Sudan and up to 50 megawatts to Djibouti.

Electric power transmission lines with capacity of carrying 2,000 megawatts are also being extended to Kenya to supply power to the country.

The minister added that beyond East Africa, Ethiopia has been undertaking preparatory works to export electricity to Yemen via Djibouti, and electric power will soon be supplied to South Sudan and Somalia.

The electric power export does not affect the domestic electric supply, the minister stressed, adding that there is sufficient power.

He attributed the current power interruption to network problem in addition to the growing demand for power.

The minister further noted that Ethiopia produces 2,000 megawatts of electricity and that can definitely meet the current demand of the country.

According to Alemayehu, the current problem is caused by defects on transformers and inability of electric cables to carry loads as well as other factors.

To alleviate the problem, the ministry, in collaboration with Metals and Engineering Corporation (MetEC), is producing from 30 to 35 transformers in a day, the minister stated.

Source:ENA