Two Chinese-built hydro power projects in Ethiopia to be commissioned in Q2 2019

Ethiopia is planning to commission two Chinese-built energy projects in the second half of 2019, an Ethiopian official said on April 23.

The Deputy Minister at Ethiopia ministry of water, irrigation Frehiwot Woldehanna said to Xinhua that the 254 megawatt Genale Dawa III hydro project and an electricity transmission line connecting Ethiopia to Kenya is expected to be commissioned in the second half of this year.

The 254 megawatt Genale Dawa III hydro project is located in south-eastern Ethiopia and is currently being built by China Gezhouba Group at a cost of around USD 450 million. The 1,045 kilometres Ethiopia-Kenya electricity transmission line is divided between 612 kilometres on the Kenyan side and 433 kilometres on the Ethiopian side. The 1,045 kilometres electricity transmission project which is expected to need USD 1.2 billion to be completed is funded by the African Development Bank and the World Bank.

The Ethiopian side of the Ethiopia-Kenya electricity transmission line is currently being constructed by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology. The electricity transmission line will have a transmitting capacity of 2,000 megawatt once it is completed.

Woldehana said Chinese firms have played an important role in helping Ethiopia achieve its energy sector ambitions, affirming his government's commitment to continue energy sector partnership with Chinese firms. The energy sector is one of Ethiopia's priorities as the country envisages to become a light manufacturing hub in Africa together with a middle-income economy by 2025, as reported by Xinhua.

Ethiopia plans to increase its current 4,300 megawatt electricity generation capacity to 17,300 megawatt by 2025, with power generation projects in hydro, wind, geothermal and biomass sectors.

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