ADDIS ABABA – The Ministry of Mines said it is offering short and long-term trainings both domestically and internationally to enhance manpower capacity for geothermal development.
Mines State Minister Million Mathewos told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the government is facilitating various trainings to meet the technology required for geothermal development.
Organizations are working to train the youth by involving the local community in various activities. Even if there is no experienced local expert, it is being done by including experts from abroad to get experience, he said.
The State Minister further explained that as the mining and geothermal sector requires a lot of investment and deep drilling work, activities are being done for inviting foreign investors to invest in the sector. Besides, local contractors are invited to take part in bids.
He added that investors from six different countries and one government institution are engaged in the sector. A range of activities are being done by issuing 11 exploration and development permits.
According to a Geological Survey in Ethiopia, some 27 high-temperature geothermal areas are capable of generating electricity and Ethiopia has a total generating capacity of more than10 thousand megawatts from the sector.
Job opportunities, on permanent and contractual bases, have been created in the mining sector. In so doing, it has been possible to create jobs for 300 people in the geothermal sector, he said.
As the geothermal sector requires a lot of resources, two foreign companies have signed a power purchase agreement and an implementation agreement with the government and are drilling to generate 150 megawatts each in two rounds, he stated.
10 deep examining wells with a total depth of over 27 thousand meters have been drilled by the government company and two more wells are being drilled.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 30 APRIL 2024
