Ethiopia signs for first phase of 1000 MW geothermal project

• 9 years ago (2015-07-29)

Africa 320 North America 1021 Renewables 776

---

The deal followed President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, which aims to increase both technical and investment expertise as well as develop investment in power generation.

Edward Njorge, from the Corbetti Geothermal Project, said: “Ethiopia, like other African nations, suffers from a lack of energy and its lack stunts development… its 7000 MW plus geothermal potential can help in bridging the energy cap.”

CEO of Ethiopia’s state-owned power utility firm (EEP) Azeb Asnake said this project fits into the country’s green energy power procurement programme.

The first phase of the $4 billion project will have a 500 MW generating capacity, which will be purchased by the Ethiopian government and supplied to the population.

This project builds into Ethiopia’s Growth and Transformation Plans 2015-2020 to boost the country’s total power generation from current levels of 4200 MW to 17 300 MW by 2020.

The project is expected to take around 8-10 years to be completed.