Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, announced on Thursday, March 10, 2016 the nation would soon launch a 2,000 megawatt hydropower dam. Without giving any further details, he told the House of Peoples’ Representatives the launch of the dam would commence soon.

From the year 2015 to 2020, Ethiopia intends to boost its output to 17,346 megawatts from a current capacity of just over 2,200. It plans to achieve this from hydropower, wind and geothermal sources.

According to Reuters, the nation bids to tap several rivers for power generation as part of plans to boost manufacturing and industrialize its agrarian economy.

Currently Ethiopia is undertaking different dam construction, including the 4.1 billion USD Grand Renaissance Dam and Gilgel Gibe III that will produce 6000 megawatts and 1800 megawatts respectively.

According to experts, Ethiopia’s hydropower potential is about 45,000 megawatts while its geothermal potential reaches 5,000 megawatts. Its wind power potential, on the other hand, is third from the African continent. 

The Premier explained the country was negotiating with international companies to build more power generating projects. He also noted that poor rainy season had an adverse effect on existing dams. According to him, because of the poor rainy season 4 hydropower plants with a total generating capacity of 675 megawatts were either producing as low as 10 percent or nothing at all.

Source: Reuters