Ethiopia completes construction of new power lines

27 April 2011

As part of plans to export electrical power to its African neighbours, the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) has revealed that installation of power transmission lines that stretch to Sudan and Djibouti have been completed.

It forms part of a contract to supply 200 megawatts of electricity to Djibouti, 500 megawatts to Kenya and 200 megawatts to Sudan when the dams are complete, the Sudan Tribune reports.

The projects were carried out thanks to a multi-million dollar fund from the World Bank, with the financial body adding that a similar $196 million (£118 million) initiative connecting Ethiopia with Kenya is also underway.

Mehret Debebe, the chief executive officer of EEPCo, recently told the Walta Information Center that other African nations are looking to import renewable energy from Ethiopia because of the cost.

"Ethiopia is endeavouring to fully harness its hydropower potential, which is estimated to be more than 45,000 megawatts, to alleviate poverty," he said.

Ethiopia is currently undertaking multi-billion dollar investment in hydro-electric projects.

Category: Energy