The first phase of a project to produce up to date and comprehensive data on the energy sector was completed and submitted to the Ministry of Water and Energy on Wednesday. The study was carried out at a cost of 4.3 million birr.

The project known as the ‘Energy Sector Mapping and Database Development (ESMAD) was initiated by the MoWE and financed by GiZ. The study was carried out by Professional Consulting on Energy and Development in collaboration with eight other private consultants.

It took 16 months to complete the first phase which included the development of GIS enabled, web based energy database. The database allows various energy maps to be produced on the basis of data collected on the supply of electricity, renewable energy biomass and hydrocarbons.

The project will show areas requiring power generation which could useful to private investors wishing to engage in the sector according to Samson Tolessa deputy director of Energy Coordination Office of GiZ.  This study eliminates the cost of identifying potential for private investors he explained.

The study also claimed that Ethiopia was using a very small fraction of the potential available to generate power from wind and solar energy.  

A national committee made up of MoWe, Ethiopian Electric Agency, GiZ, Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, Central Statistics Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture was in charge of overseeing the project.

The second phase of the project will be conducted by the same consultants at an estimated cost of 1.2 million US dollars said Samson.  

Source: Addis Fortune