Ethiopia's energy exports reached $140 million in the recently concluded fiscal year, marking a 16% increase from the previous year, according to the Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) company.
EEP CEO Ashebir Balcha, during a press briefing, attributed the growth to the increasing demand for energy, particularly from data mining, which contributed $27 million to the total export revenue.
Looking ahead, EEP aims to generate over $260 million in energy exports during the current 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year (July 2024 – July 2025). The company is also focusing on expanding its energy exports regionally, with a transmission test to Tanzania scheduled to begin next month.
Domestically, Ethiopia's energy demand continues to rise, increasing by 17% compared to the previous year. This growing demand is being met by increased production, particularly from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Operating with only two of its 13 turbines, GERD already contributed 17% of the total energy generated in Ethiopia's last fiscal year, 2016. With additional turbines coming into operation in the current fiscal year, the GERD is expected to significantly increase domestic energy supply.