EEPC planed to generate 10,000 MW in the next five years

By Zeray H/Mariam (WIC)

09/10/10

Recognizing the dependence of the socio-economic development of a country is on electric power development, the Government of Ethiopia has given a special attention for the construction of hydro power dams to meet the ever increasing demand for electric power due to the fast sustainable economic growth, which requires the supply of enough energy.

Ensuring energy security and sustainability has become critical for our socio-economic development. As development requires a continuously growing supply of energy, exploring energy resources and developing them to the level of generating and supplying energy to all sectors is a major task. Recognizing this fact, the fact the government has given the highest priority for the power sector development program.

In order to use power as one of the basic inputs to provide competitive agricultural and industrial products in world markets, the government of Ethiopia allocated multibillion Dollars for the sector.

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPC) had only 340 Mega watts up to 1991. The first hydroelectric power plant was installed at Akaki River in 1912. However the situation is now altered. According to the 2002 report of EEPC, the electric power has reached 2000 Mega Watt. Its growth is by 588% in the past 19 years which is incomparable with the past regimes. Had the past regimes given more attention to the power sector like this government, one wonders where could we have been by now?

Despite the huge power generating capacity, 60000 Mega Watt, the country did not effectively use it in the previous years. It is only in the past two decades that the government of Ethiopia begun to invest on this sector.

The Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) since it has taken power in 1991 has materialized many hydropower projects such as Gibe I with 184 MW, Awash 7 kilo with 35 MW, Kality Disel with 12 MW, DireDaws Disel with 40 MW, Tekeze with 300 MW, Gibe II with 420 MW and Tana Beles multipurpose project with 460 MW which could have brought the total number of Ethiopia’s current generating capacity to close 2000MW, the report revealed

As there is boosting economy and investment, the 2000 Mega Watt is not even satisfactory to accommodate it.

Many economists, international agencies like International Monitory fund (IMF), World Bank etc have confirmed that Ethiopia will join the middle in come level countries in the set time after they have learnt from its visible economic growth in the past seven consecutive years. When the economy grows, the demand for power also grows.

The car may go some distance but it will be forced to stop some where. The same is true for the economy unless accompanied by power development.

Now the country’s electric power transmission line has reached 8868 KM from 3578 KM in 1991. It has grown by 247%.

The electric power substations were only 82 before 1991 which have currently reached 123 without including those under construction.

An electric power substations with 400/230/13 kilo volt at Debremarkos, electric power substation with 230/132/66/45/33/15 kilo volt at Gefersa, and electric power substations at Sululta (which is the largest of the country with 400/230/132/33/15 kilo volt) are underway. It has showed an increase of 150% since 1991, the 2002 report unveiled

A low electric transmission line which was only 9972 km before 1991 has reached 120, 271 Km up to 2009 and has grown by 1206%.

The Ethiopian Electric Corporation with out doubt has created other new customers for the past 18 years. The number of customers was about 428,941 before 1991 which has reached close to 2 million over the past 18 years showing an increase of 427%.

Wind power generation with 120 Mega watt, Fincha Amerti Nesh with 100 MW, which is expected to be completed and start production by 2011, Gibe III with 1870 Mega Watt generation capacity whose construction is completed 38% with total 3270 Mega Watt are expected to commence power production in 2014/2005. Some 4932 kilo volt high electric transmission lines are also being constructed along the power plants.

Generally, the corporation has scored a sounding achievement in the four main activities; generation, transmission, distribution and selling electric to customers for the past 18 years.

The corporation could achieve all these tremendous goals as a result of the government’s fair and equitable policy which reads “electric for all nations”, Nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. The government is working tirelessly to make 100% electric available in the rural parts of Ethiopia having designed rural electrification program in the coming five years, the EEPC report 2002 revealed.

The electric demand of the country is growing faster than ever as the economic sector is moving speedy. The country showed 25% of electric demand only for this Budget year. There fore, it is simple to imagine that how much power is needed when a new industry is established.

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) Public Relations Head, Misker Negash, told WIC recently that the EEPCo is exerting relentless efforts to provide electric power to all urban and rural kebeles across the country in the coming five years.

Ato Miskir Ngash added that the government has been realizing more hydroelectric power projects including Gibe III with more than 41 total billion birr (calculated) to meet its fast economic growth.

The projects are designed to create a reservoir lake which can use to develop irrigation schemes, fishing activities and renewable resources. Gilgel Gibe III hydroelectric plant being constructed with over 1.47 billion euro allocated by the Ethiopian government will have a lion share in the country’s electric power export plan.

Some 17,500 (calculated) workers from Ethiopia and from other countries have participated only in the 4 projects; Tekeze over 3500 workers and over 3.92 billion birr financed by the government of Ethiopia, Gibe II over 4000 workers with over 490,915,011.19 Euro half covered by the government of Ethiopia and Italy, Tana Beles over 7 billion birr covered by Ethiopian government, Gibe III with over 7000 workers with over 1.47 billion Euro.

The four projects account 3050MW. Gibe III is the largest hydro power project next to the Democratic Republic Congo in the eastern Africa, it is believed to create about 6 billion birr market for the local inhabitants, according to the Gibe III today magazine published by EEPC.

Many social benefits life like the constructions of schools, clinics, potable water, job opportunities, knowledge transfer, cultural ties, roads, new market & bridges were largely under taken in those areas to benefit the inhabitants.

The government’s plan is to reach adequate electric power to the country’s demand and then to export to neighboring countries. Fore example, the total energy production capacity of the country is also projected to reach 10,000MW from the current 2,000MW as part of the growth and transformation plan which is regarded as ambitious plan and expected to put the country at a lower middle income level and self-food sufficient.

There is also a plan to export electric power to the neighboring countries by raising the current 2,000 MW to 10, 000MW in the reported period, Miskir said.

He added the installation of electric transmission lines that interconnect Ethiopia with Kenya, Djibouti and Sudan is being carried out so as to begin the power export. The interconnection line joining Ethiopia and Djibouti is nearing completion.

This clear and correct strategy must be given attention by all the people and development partners of Ethiopia so that it could meet its target.