Ethiopia has been exporting electric power to its neighbors Sudan and Djibouti. Despite that, it still has to address electric power demand at home. Of course, it has been exporting power in the evening or over nights during which the power is less used. Above all it has started rationing electric power supply to its population.
Had it developed its potential to a higher level, it would have been easy to access and export more energy any time to its neighbors. Beyond making revenue this will enhance the economic integration of people in the region.
Various factors are causing a rapid increase in the country’s electric power consumption. First Ethiopia is one of the populous nations of the continent. Majority of the population have no access to electric power. But more and more a growing portion of the population has been demanding access to the source of energy. Especially with the rapid rate of urbanization in the country, there is likelihood for an equivalent rate of increase in the demand.
Furthermore, Ethiopia is moving on the express lane towards propelling the manufacturing industry. With the construction of more and more industrial parks, it is easy to estimate how much amount of electric power the country would need in the future.
Equally important to consider is Ethiopia’s effort to cater for the demand of electricity of its neighboring countries. Especially at a time when the country has acceded to the framework of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) electric power connectivity is likely to be advantageous for the countries in the region.
Documents indicate that currently Ethiopia is generating about 4,300 megawatts of electric power from hydro and wind sources. Over 3,800 megawatts is generated from hydropower while 324 megawatts emanates from wind source. The actual power that these sources vary from time to time specially the source of power emanating from wind is not constant due to the nature of the sources.
All in all, Ethiopia has continued investing on alternative sources of power highly. For addressing both the growing local demand of electricity, as well as boosting its export of power, Ethiopia has been working strenuously on electric power projects mainly from its hydropower sources. Yet it is still struggling to fully utilize the already operational hydroelectric power dams and speedup the completion of those under construction. Furthermore efforts are underway by the government to implement more projects from solar, wind and geothermal power.
Developing the country’s hydroelectric power to the maximum potential possible has remained to be a challenge for the country. Therefore countries of the region should do their best to work in collaboration in the development of electric power for mutual benefits.
In addition to the ongoing efforts under initiatives like Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), countries of the region must prioritize the issue in all occasions of economic integration to keep pace with their growing demand for energy. They should collaborate with Ethiopia in its endeavor of soliciting funding as well as financial support for the development of its energy sources.
Above all, the federal government of Ethiopia must intensify its efforts of power generation by unleashing its huge potentials and diversifying its power sources as well as by maximizing the involvement of the private sector so as to meet the great need of the population and make Addis Ababa the capital of Africa, free from power rationing.
The Ethiopian Herald, June 15/2019
