South Sudan has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia to import hydro and other cheaper energy, bringing to birth the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (Gerd).
According to the Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia will export 100 Megawatts of electricity to South Sudan over the next three years.
Ethiopian Electric Power Corporate Planning Executive Officer Andualem Siaa says during the first phase of the three-year period, Ethiopia will export 100 megawatts of electricity to South Sudan. Thereafter, it will supply 400 megawatts of power.
Further, Ethiopia also has an agreement to sell electricity to Kenya and Tanzania, with plans underway to also supply electricity to Rwanda, Somaliland and Burundi. It is eyeing the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (Gerd) and smaller dams as critical sources of hydro-power to local demand of 110 million people as well as neighbouring countries.
The East African reports that Ethiopia currently exports 254 megawatts of electricity to neighbouring Sudan and Djibouti. In the last nine months, it earned $37 million in power exports to the two countries.
The controversial Gerd project is Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, with a capacity to generate up to 5,000 MW and started generating electricity for the first time last February.
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