2merkato

The power generation capacity of Ethiopia has reached 2,140 MW according to the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation. It is to be remembered that the power generated in the country was just 370 MW two decades ago.

The national electricity coverage has grown to 47% from only 8% in the early nineties said Miheret Debebe, Chief Executive Officer with the EEPCo.

The per capital energy consumption twenty years ago was below 20KW at the household level but has grown to 100KW now he said.

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation announced that that first tender to outsource its utility management to an international company failed, last week. The sole utility company in Ethiopia, EEPCo, is considering further options.

The tender was put out as part of the power corporations aim to transform its utility operations, including distribution, transmission and power generation.

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, Ethiopia’s sole electric provider, is revising its power sector master plan for the next twenty five years taking in to consideration its aim to generate 37,000 MW in the coming quarter of a century.

The adjustment to the master plan established earlier was necessitated because of the growth in the power sector and the need to reassess the the previous baseline to take into consideration new power requirements said Mihiret Debebe, Chief Executive Officer of EEPCo.

The new 25 year master plan is expected to be unveiled in the first half of the next financial year according to Mihiret. The new plan aims to generate 37,000 MW by the end of the period and will establish financial sources for the high costs anticipated in implementing power projects.

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation signed an agreement with ABB to extend and upgrade transmission substations. The project to upgrade the existing substations in the central part of Ethiopia is expected to cost around 26 million US dollars.

ABB will be expected to enhance the automation, telecommunication, protection and control systems of the substations.
The agreement signed with EEPC mandates ABB with designing engineering, supplying, constructing and commissioning the substations. The contractor will also be responsible for all civil work.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desaleng said, Ethiopia is eager to further strength ties with Kenya in the areas trade and investment, Ethiopian News Agency reported. The premier said this during his discussions on Wednesday, 31 July, 20013 with Kenyan business delegates who arrived in Addis Ababa.

He also said  it is timely to implement the special status agreement signed between Ethiopia and Kenya in 2012. The Premier further explained the need for the two countries to create strong economic ties to maximize the real benefit of investment exchange. Hailemariam also said, Ethiopia is undertaking massive infrastructure and energy development efforts as part of its commitment in the implementation of the special status agreement.