The federal government has secured finance from the World Bank to build a hybrid mini-grid power plant, partially tapping energy from solar sources.

The 217 million dollar project is designed to generate 35MW powering 240,000 households in towns in all but Harari, Tigray and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states. The Africa Development Bank (ADB) has also provided 161 million dollars in loans to build 25 mini-grid plants in all but Afar and Gambella regional states.

Under a program dubbed Access to Distributed Electricity and Lighting in Ethiopia (ADELE), the project foresees to cover 30pc of 201 villages during the first phase. ADELE is part of Ethiopia’s long-held aspirations to achieve universal electricity access by 2025. The goal is to expand the electrification program to cover the country with affordable tariffs.

Ethiopia’s energy policy was introduced in 1994, relying on hydropower to meet demand growing by an estimated 20pc annually. Close to 90pc of the 4,500MW generated electric power comes from hydropower sources and dams built and operated by the federal government. Despite wind and geothermal potential, users continue to experience cut-offs and load shedding.

The federal government hopes to increase power generation five-fold in the coming decade, with the private sector accounting for a quarter of it. However, the involvement of private operators in energy production remains almost nonexistent.

Tulu Moye Geothermal Operations Plc is investing in a geothermal power plant yet under development.

The finance from the World Bank, directed to Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU), is almost half of the half-billion dollars earmarked for the ADELE programme. Part of this fund was used to build grid expansion in Addis Abeba and seats of the 10 regional states. It also addresses off-grid solar (OGS) electricity systems to households and 1,400 public institutions. At a projected cost of 483 million Br, electricity meters, transformers and transmission lines were rolled out.

Several towns in Amhara Regional State cities are among the beneficiaries.

In North Gonder, Wasel Kebele saw 1.15Km medium and 22.6Km low transmission lines rolled out, while four transformers were installed. Over 300 single-phase electric meters were lined up. Residents in the West Gonder Zone saw 2.2Km of medium and 12.8Km transmission lines, four transformers, and 188 single-phase electric meters installed.

However, according to Kirubel Kefyalew, head of the electric utility management bureau under the Amhara Regional State, the project is yet to be completed.