Reykjavik Geothermal sets to start $4.4bln worth volcanic energy exploration in Ethiopia

Reykjavik Geothermal, a power developer backed by hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones II, is about to start USD 4.4 billion project in September this year to bring volcanic energy to Ethiopia.

Tapping long-built Icelandic expertise in channelling volcanic power, the developer is preparing to start exploration drilling in September for two 500-megawatt plants in Corbetti and Tulu Moye, south of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

At full-scale, each project would become the largest independent power producer in Africa, according to Reykjavik Geothermal. The Reykjavik-based geothermal development company’s exploration teams have picked spots to drill where they can see steam rising from the ground, according to Bloomberg.

“All the results from the surface exploration work indicate that we are developing projects in a huge caldera, huge active volcanoes which can sustain at least 1,000 megawatts or more,” Gunnar Orn Gunnarsson, RG’s chief operating officer, said in an interview in Reykjavik.

The projects would become a vital cog in Ethiopia’s drive to become a middle-income country by 2025. The projects will cost money and need more investors to reach full potential. The first phase will develop 50 to 60 megawatts, requiring an equity investment of USD 175 million for each. They have been fully funded and RG holding a significant minority share in each project.

Bringing the full projects on-line would cost about USD 2.2 billion apiece, with 75 percent anticipated to be financed via debt. Other owners in the projects include Africa Renewable Energy Fund, Iceland Drilling Co. and Meridiam SAS.

RG is now negotiating drilling contracts after getting everything in place with the government, according to Gunnarsson. The projects have been in the works since 2010, through three prime ministers.

“Our relationship with the government has always been very positive and the current government is very supportive,” he said. “They have shown, in particular over the last year, that they want this to happen and now we have cleared the pathway to go to exploration drilling,” he added, as reported by FBC.

Also Read: Possibility of more Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Ethiopia’s pharma sector