Tanzania to buy 400MW of hydro-power from Ethiopia

By Sam Okwakol

Addis Ababa — Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEP) last week announced Tanzania will buy 400MW of hydro-power processed electricity writes SAM OKWAKOL

According to the Ethiopian News Agency, the agreement between the two countries will be finalised in the coming weeks.

EEP's Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Azeb Asnake said, "The new power export deal will fosters economic integration and strengthen multilateral ties between the two countries.

"The power transaction will create further economic integration between Tanzania and Kenya as the latter sits between Ethiopia and Tanzania," she said.

Ethiopia is investing billions of dollars to construct a number of hydro-electric power plants including what would be Africa's largest Dam known as Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD).

She said, "Because when Tanzania gets electric power from Ethiopia, it has to pass through Kenya. When two countries are integrated economically, then they have to watch out for their political relationship as well".

GERD which is being constructed along the Nile River in the Benshangul Gumz region near the Sudanese border is currently over 50% complete and will have power generation capacity of 8,000 MW.

The Ethiopian government says construction of the massive dam project will transform the country's vision to become a leading power exporter in the East African region hub for the renewable energy in Africa.

Ethiopia hopes to become a middle income nation by 2025. Currently, it exports hydro-power processed electricity to its neighbors: Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti. Ethiopia intends to export power to seven neighbouring countries after the completion of the mega dam project.

Azeb further said Ethiopia also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Burundi and Rwanda.It also has plans to link its grid with South Sudan, Uganda and Yemen. Ethiopia's potential power output from hydro as well as geothermal, wind and solar energy over 60,000 MW is roughly equal to half of Africa's current installed capacity 147,000MW. Read more here