BY TEWODROS KASSA
WOLAITA SODO- Exporting power to Kenya, Ethiopia will double its foreign earnings from energy export in the current fiscal year ,so disclosed Ethio-Kenya Project Site Manager Tewodros Ayalew.
The manger told The Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that Ethiopia is going to secure over 100 million USD exporting power annually to Kenya alone.
It was learnt that Ethiopia earned over 95.5 million USD from electric energy export during the last2021/22 fiscal year.
Tewodros said that, the Ethio- Kenya project is expected to solve the country’s foreign exchange deficit to some extent.
Based the agreement reached between the two countries over 100 million USD will be generated exporting 200 megawatts of energy to Kenya every year, he said.
As to him, for the next three years, Ethiopia would continue to earn such revenue .
But, after three years, over 400 megawatts of power will be supplied and at the same time the income will be doubled, he added.
Currently, the electricity transmission test work is being carried out generating the aforesaid income will continue after a month.
On his part, Wolaita Sodo Converter Station Operation Head Habtamu Girma said that this project has contributed greatly to the economy of the country through exporting power to Kenya.
This transmission line will also help sending electricity to other neighboring countries including Tanzania and Uganda.
It is to be recalled that Ethiopia signed a power sale agreement with Kenya in August, 2022.
According to the agreement, Ethiopia will sell one kilowatt hour of electricity for 6.5 USD cents.
The agreement states that after three years, there will be a negotiation to revise the current tariff price at the Ethiopian Electric Power request.
The Wolaita Sodo Converter Station, built outside of the city of Wolaita Sodo at a cost Of over 500 million USD is a center where electricity is measured and sent from Ethiopia to Kenya.
Accordingly, the project was accomplished with the financial support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank by the Chinese CET and German Siemens companies.
The Ethiopian herald November 25/2022
