The state-owned Ethiopian Electric Utility is undertaking a 20.1 million dollar project to provide 25 towns access to solar-powered electric grids. Funded by a loan secured from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project is hoped to reach over 145,000 households located in small towns in eight regional states, including Oromia, Afar, Somali and Amhara. The solar plants will generate a total of 8,000kw of electricity, and the project also entails the erection of 68.7Km of high voltage electric transmission lines and 233.3Km of low voltage lines. The project is expected to be completed in six months. Last year, a total of 12 solar power projects were initiated, eight of which are fully operational.