Agenda | Dec 24,2022
Frequent power outages disrupt daily life and hinder economic activities across the country and Addis Abeba, as residents and businesses struggle with an unreliable electricity supply. The persistent energy crisis has turned routine tasks into daily challenges, with simple activities like cooking becoming ordeals due to unexpected blackouts. The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU), the sole electricity distributor, acknowledged the widespread outages but blamed unbalanced consumption and outdated infrastructure as the primary culprits. According to its officials, the proliferation of electricity-intensive businesses operating within residential condominiums has overloaded transformers that are not designed to handle such demand.
A recent EEU study examining 881 medium-voltage lines revealed that power blackouts average 46 hours. Earth faults, often caused by landslides, account for nearly 47pc of these outages. Short circuits, operational problems, and overcurrent issues further contribute to outages. The EEU accepts responsibility for 88pc of the blackouts, with the remaining attributed to Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), the state-owned company responsible for power generation. Small businesses are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Bakers, vital to the local food supply, face halted operations and strained customer relations due to unreliable electricity. Larger institutions are not spared either. The IT Park near Goro relies heavily on diesel generators to maintain operations, a costly and unsustainable solution. Despite slight improvements, management anticipates that a long-term fix will require substantial investment, including a planned 50 million dollars on-site substation.
Experts argue that the heart of the problem lies in the outdated infrastructure. They urged authorities to prioritise rebuilding energy distribution systems and promote energy-efficient practices in buildings. With nearly half of Ethiopia's population lacking reliable electricity and frequent outages plaguing those connected, the need for systemic solutions is increasingly urgent. The EEU's acknowledgement of the issues could have come as a step toward addressing the crisis, but residents remain sceptical about immediate improvements. As the capital struggles with power reliability, individuals and businesses are left searching for alternative solutions to overcome the daily uncertainties. SEE
You can read the full story here
PUBLISHED ON
Nov 09,2024 [ VOL
25 , NO
1280]
Fortune News | Apr 28,2024
Radar | Jan 01,2023
Fortune News | Jul 03,2024
Advertorials | Dec 06,2023
Fortune News | Aug 12,2023
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transportin...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
The cracks in Ethiopia's higher education system were laid bare during a synthesis re...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Construction authorities have unveiled a price adjustment implementation manual for s...
Nov 16 , 2024
In the realm of public finance, balance sheets speak louder than rhetoric. In such do...
Nov 9 , 2024
Ethiopia's foreign exchange debacle resembles a tangled web of contradictions and con...
Nov 2 , 2024
Addis Abeba, fondly dubbed a 'New Flower,' is wilting under the weight of unchecked u...
Oct 26 , 2024
When flames devoured parts of Mercato, residents watched helplessly as decades of toi...
Loading your updates...