Ethiopia completes feasibility study to export power to Egypt

Tigrai Online, May 1, 2017

As the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam mega project nears completion, the Ethiopian government is actively marketing to sell the extra power generated by the GERD mega dam.

According to ENA Ethiopia has finalized the feasibility study to export power to Egypt. The Egyptian government might have realized the fact that the GERD mega project is a done deal issue. Bizuneh Tolcha, Public Relation and Communication Director with the Ethiopian Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity indicated the feasibility study was carried out because Egypt is showing signs to buy electric power from Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has been going out of its way to assure the Egyptians building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will not harm them in any way. International experts time and again proved that GEARD might even be helpful to Egypt by controlling flooding and providing them with reasonably priced electric power. Now it seems as the GERD is becoming a fact on the ground the Egyptians are changing their mind and softening their stand. According to ENA, consultations are underway between the Egyptian and Ethiopian authorities on “ways of commencing” the supply of power to Egypt.

Currently Ethiopia is selling 100 mw to Sudan, 80 mw to Djibouti, and 10 mw of power to Kenya. On top of that Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya and South Sudan have signed agreement with Ethiopia to purchase electricity. Once the deals are finalized Kenya and Tanzania will buy 400 mw of power each. Ethiopia is aiming and working to become the powerhouse of Africa in the near future.

Many studies has shown if properly utilized Ethiopia has the potential can produce up to 45, 000 mw of electric power from Hydro, solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The report said Ethiopia is earning about 80 million USD each year from the sale of electricity to the neighboring countries.

Yemen and Saudi Arabia has also some interest to buy electric power from Ethiopia. As you can see most of the East African countries and some countries in the Middle East are consulting or negotiating with Ethiopia to purchase green energy from Ethiopia. There is only one country left out because of its arrogant leader has decided to antagonize, or destabilize Ethiopian instead of working together for a common peaceful benefit.