Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE) announced by the year 2015 it plans to expand access to electricity from the present 51 percent to 75 percent of Ethiopia’s population.

The move by the government will made to promote and support the development and expansion of social service as well as income generating activities in rural parts of the country, according to The Ethiopian Herald.

During the opening of a two day National Workshop, State Minister Kebede Gerba, commented the development of large scale hydropower projects is being done with assessments to environmental and social impacts of the projects.

Kebede also said developing small and micro hydropower has gained the attention of the government for they are suitable and economical in electrifying remote rural areas. In addition to this, they are helpful to establish agro processing plants and productive activities in rural part of the country.

He further noted since 2005 the country has shown great progress in the power sector by implementing Universal Electricity Access Program via grid expansion. In particular he lauded the success of the program with the supply of electricity to households of rural towns, villages and social service centers.

In addition to this, Kebede stated the government has established Off-grid Rural Electrification Fund in order to harmonize the efforts of grid expansion by involving the private sector and cooperatives.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald