It goes without saying electricity is the life blood of industrialization a sure proof for affluence. Thus, those countries bountifully blessed with a resource conducive for generating such energy could easily materialize their development plan harnessing their God-bestowed wealth, prominent among which is water that falls in the renewable energy source and stands tall for its environment friendliness.
Tapping such a resource requires conviction and an all-out effort of citizens obliged to get off the ground by their shoestring budget or bootstrapping if support from external sources proves in short supply.
It is mindful of the fact that utilizing its water resource Ethiopia is striving to spearhead its surge towards modernization and to warrant its ability of coming close to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
It is to be recalled that its citizens for long were sweltering under a power supply problem compelling mainly women to resort to firewood. The country was also forced to zero in on light industries. Bleak was the fate of Ethiopia strangulated by power shortage. A turnaround was called for.
Not confining its vision within its perimeter, Ethiopia today aspires to electrify the region and beyond. As per this dream, Ethiopia, which brought into being the Great Renaissance Dam (GERD), is flexing its muscles to sell electricity up to the southern tip of the continent. As common growth through economic growth is a timely one such push deserves commendation. All the more so, as such common growth ensures peace a key ingredient as well as a perk of development.
The Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) has disclosed an envisaged plan to create grid connection among eastern and southern power pools of Africa.
In the long run after infrastructural development Ethiopia also plans to extend its wings in power supply to European countries. It is not hard to surmise how Ethiopia will turn out to be an energy powerhouse in Africa and beyond.
According to FDRE Planning and Development Commission’s 10-year Development Plan, Ethiopia has a principal objective of energy development plan envisaged for the coming ten years (2020/21-2029/30). It aims at ramping up power generation capacity from 4,478 megawatts to 19,900 megawatts. It also aims at increasing power transmission lines from 18,400 km to 29,900km. Stepping up electricity export from 2,803 GWH to 7,184 GWH is also in its plan.
In this era of globalization, let alone standing aloof, weathering hardship closing ranks on a firm economic base is an uphill battle. In cognizance of this fact, Ethiopia wants to click with all African countries in more ways than one— beyond electricity.
Specially, in translating Africa’s free trade zone into action Ethiopia’s effort is salient. Following suit, east African countries must break loose from debilitating poverty.
Here it is worth noting that efforts to this effect since the wind of change wafted across the country’s sky are appreciable. The fact that this is in congruence with the principle of accretion is heartwarming.
As the Chinese proverb goes “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Mind full of the scenario development partners, donors and developing countries must extend a helping hand to such effort of standing on their own feet.
Also homing on alternative renewable energy sources is vital.
The Ethiopian Herald March 31/2024
