BLACKOUTS SURGE - FRUSTRATIONS MOUNT

Nov 9 , 2024.

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(EEU), the sole electricity distributor, acknowledged the widespread outages but blamed unbalanced consumption and outdated infrastructure as the primary culprits.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Experts argue that the heart of the problem lies in the outdated infrastructure.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

PUBLISHED ON Nov 09,2024 [ VOL 25 , NO 1280]