The Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity announced plans to undertake 105 dam construction projects on small rivers in GTP II period, Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported.

With an aim to ensure more access to hydropower in rural areas, the Ministry identified project sites in Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ (SNNPR), Gambella, Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states.

Bizuneh Tolcha, Public Relations Director at the Ministry told ENA the projects will be for off-grid areas across Ethiopia. According to Bizuneh, the project will help expand small industries and irrigation development schemes.

The Ministry stated that feasibility studies in five selected sites with potentials up to 11 megawatts is finalized, thus private investors are welcome to engage.

The Ministry in GTP I period has managed to provide hydropower from small river dams to 300 thousand inhabitants of Oromia and SNNPR.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency