ADDIS ABABA— Expanding off-grid solar energy access for the population who live outside of the grid network is vital in enhancing the overall socio-economic development of the country, said Patrick K. Tonui, East Africa Regional Representative of GOGLA, an organization that is engaged in the Off-Grid Solar Energy Industry.
On the sideline of East African Energy Summit held recently, Patrick told The Ethiopian Herald that Ethiopia has a very vibrant offgrid solar energy sources that would enable it to deliver power solution. The government has to also make sure the participation of the private sector in the sector to exploit the solar energy potentials and meet its power targets, he added.
In many African counties, it is not possible to access all areas through the electric grid alone. Hence, most people outside of the grid network have still relied on kerosene and wood fuels as main energy sources. “It may take five or 10 years for communities to access grid electricity once a project is set,’ he said adding “On the other hand, it is possible to utilize solar energy immediately for various purposes in these communities including for irrigation.”
Dr. Seleshi Bekele Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy (MOWIE) said that the Ministry has prepared a framework to cover 35 percent of the national energy demand from energy sources by 2025.
He also said both the government and concerned bodies have responsibilities to exploit the energy sources. Dereje Walelign, Managing Director of LYDETCO P.L.C, an importer of Solar energy equipment said besides improving access to electricity, particularly for health and education institutions, the solar energy sector has also a lot of potential in creating a lot of job opportunities.
As the concerned government institutions have already conducted research on the sector, it has become easier to invest in the sector now than before, Dereje Wondfrawu, CEO of Solar Energy Development Association on his part said.
But, the policy has to specifically encourage the sector and sets the tariffs on imported products, he added. In addition, substandard products, hard-currency shortage and lack of awareness remain to be a challenge to the development of the sector, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald April 11, 2019
BY MULATU BELACHEW
