2merkato

A Bill to ratify the establishment of the International Renewable Energy Agency was tabled before the Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives.

The bill has been sent to the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Affairs Standing Committee for further review.

Ethiopia will benefit from becoming a member of IRENA said Wendimu Gezahegn, deputy government whip. Advantages of membership include technology transfer and capacity building according to Wendimu.

A Hong Kong based Ethiopian company, South West Energy, is to sign a petroleum production sharing agreement with the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines.  The Ministry is prepared to sign the agreement upon approval from the Cabinet said Sinknesh Ejigu Minister of Mines.

South West Energy presented an inquiry to the MoM to undertake exploratory activities in the Gambella Basin in August 2010. The Petroleum Licensing and Administration Department of the MoM reviewed the proposal from SWE and negotiated terms in the absence of other interested parties.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy is to set up two servers to make the national energy data base available to the public. The move follows the completion of the first phase of the Energy Sector Mapping and Database Development project.

The Ministry expects to make the database available through a website hosted on new servers to be acquired following an invitation to bid for their supply.

The Geological Survey of Ethiopia (GSE) announced that it has enhanced its ability to deliver geo-science data by 1:250,000. The coverage of landmass has increased to 72,000m2 from 18,000m2 annually.

Geological survey delivers information for a range of sectors requiring geo-science data including generating power, agriculture and the construction industry said Masresha G/Selassie Director General of the GSE.

The GSE has conducted 55% of digital geographic base maps, geochemistry, geomorphology mapping preparations and remote sensing reconnaissance over the last fiscal year said Masresha.