Ethiopia links power grid with Sudan

22 February 2012

The Electric and Power Corporation of Ethiopia has announced that it has finished a power transmission line that links its power grid with Sudan, the neighbouring country in east Africa.

Through the $41 million power project, which has been funded by the World Bank, Ethiopia will be able to export 100 MW of electricity to Sudan in the initial phase, and even more at some point in the future.

In a statement, the World Bank explained that the project will allow Sudan to replace "domestic thermal generation with surplus hydropower from Ethiopia, reducing Sudan's greenhouse gas emissions".

By virtue of the new system, the countries are able to better integrate their reserve capacity, which in turn increases the reliability of the interconnected system, the Sudan Tribune explained.

After the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia boasts the biggest potential hydropower in Africa.

Up until now, however, infrastructure issues have meant that the country has been unable to make the most of its advantages.

Category: General