Ethiopia Finalizes Feasibility Study to Export Electricity to Egypt

Ethiopia has finalized the feasibility study conducted on the possibility of exporting power to Egypt, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity announced.

 The feasibility study conducted as Egypt has shown an interest to purchase electric power from Ethiopia, Bizuneh Tolcha, Public Relation and Communication Director with the Ministry told ENA.

 According to Bizuneh, consultations are being underway with Egyptian authorities on ways of commencing the supply of power to that country.

 

One of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, Ethiopia is working to become the continent’s top energy exporter by tapping the numerous rivers that cascade through its highlands.

The East African nation, which has the potential to generate 45,000 megawatts of hydropower alone, is striving to increase its generating capacity to 17,347mw by 2020 from the development of hydropower dams and other renewable energy sources.

Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya and South Sudan are among the countries that signed agreement with Ethiopia to get electricity.

Currently, the country is selling 100, 80 and 10 mw power to Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya respectively.

According to Bizuneh agreement has already reached with Kenya and Tanzania for each to get 400mw power and amount of power to be exported to the other countries will be decided following consultations.

Ethiopia is earning 80 million USD per year from the sale of electricity to the neighboring countries.

source ena