- APRA Secretariat Head Safiatou Alzouma said Ethiopia could balance the region by ensuring electric power system interconnection.
- Ethiopia is a country endowed with tremendous renewable energy resources.
Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) Secretariat Head Safiatou Alzouma said Ethiopia could balance the region by ensuring the interconnection of electric power systems with neighbouring countries.
Ethiopia has a significant renewable energy potential, with hydropower estimated at 45 gigawatts, while wind and geothermal have a combined potential capacity of 15 gigawatts.
Ethiopia is one of the 7 countries of APRA that includes Kenya, Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe
The secretariat head said APRA recognises the importance of aligning African countries’ national priorities and frameworks and ensuring that initiatives are relevant and sustainable in the long term.
Therefore, APRA engagement includes country consultations and the development of national action plans encompassing all necessary interventions to expedite the nations’ journey towards ambitious renewable energy development and green growth.
Ethiopia has tremendous renewable energy resources, including hydro, wind, geothermal, solar, and biomass.
Alzouma commended the cooperation of the secretariat with all pertinent stakeholders in Ethiopia using a holistic and inclusive approach.
“What we are promoting through APRA for its all member countries, including Ethiopia, is really the coordination on mobilizing finance, engaging the private sector, building the skills and sustainable development of renewable energy,” she said.
“Ethiopia is very endowed with huge renewable energy potential, mainly hydro. If you look at the country’s power mix, it is over 90 per cent of hydro. So, Ethiopia can play a big role, a role of balance for the region,” Alzouma noted.
For her, the good thing is that Ethiopia has already created interconnection with neighbouring countries like Kenya and Djibouti.
The good thing is that you have already been implementing interconnection with your neighbouring countries like Kenya and Djibouti. So, through Ethiopia, they will really balance the intermittent renewable energy-based power that will come from other countries.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Water and Energy recently revealed that Ethiopia has been playing a leading role in creating energy ties with neighbouring countries. The country is successfully supplying energy to Sudan, Djibouti, and Kenya.