An ambitious plan by Ethiopia to export electricity to neighbouring countries is taking shape after the completion of high-voltage transmission lines connecting the country to Sudan and Djibouti.

Power exports could rake in $407-million annually, more than Ethiopia earns from exports of coffee, the country’s major foreign currency earner.
“Ethiopia is endeavouring to fully harness its hydropower potential, which is estimated to be more than 45 000 MW, to alleviate poverty,” says Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) CEO Mehret Debebe.

He adds that the country has already entered into agreements to supply 200 MW to Djibouti, 200 MW to Sudan and 500 MW to Kenya.
Debebe says Ethiopia is also mulling over a 26 km undersea transmission cable for exporting power to Yemen through Djibouti.

The Horn of Africa nation is undertaking massive investments in the energy sector, including the construction of two mega hydropower generation plants: the Grand Millennium dam, which is being constructed at a cost of $4,8-billion and will generate 5 250 MW, and the Gilgel Gibe III project, which being built at a cost of $1,8-billion and will generate 1 800 MW. Ethiopia is also establishing a wind firm with an installed capacity of 400 MW.

Currently, Ethiopia generates 2 000 MW of power for domestic demand, but its generation capa- city could increase to as much as 10 000 MW in the next five to ten years as the country seeks to become a major economic power- house in the region and the continent.

Ethiopia’s is poised to expand at a much higher rate than other African nations over the next five years. Most African nations are expected to grow at an average of 4% a year, compared with Ethiopia’s 8%.

Source: Engineering News