Ethiopia and Kenya last Monday received US$ five million grant from the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility for Eastern Africa to develop geothermal energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affair said.

Ethiopia's State Minister of Mines, Tewodros Gebre-Egziabher and Infrastructure and Energy Commissioner with the African Union Dr. Elham Ibrahim signed the agreement.

The State Minister said Ethiopia has the potential to generate up to 10,000 MW from geothermal energy. The country has identified 22 potential areas, he said.

The Commissioner on his part explained that the AU is now processing the applications of 11 countries for the Facility.

The Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility was established in 2009 to encourage public and private investors as well as public private partnerships to develop geothermal prospects for power generation in Eastern Africa by providing grants.

The Ethiopian Herald