Ethiopia plans to more than double electricity capacity to 13,000 MW by 2028, Ethiopia's President Taye Atske-Selassie said on Tuesday.
"Ethiopia processes […] a vast and largely untapped potential [for] clean energy. Our energy policy embraces a thoughtful combination of hydroelectric geothermal and as well as wind power and also a solar power. It is a deliberate policy choice not to put everything in one basket. […] Our current installed capacity now surpasses 6,000 MW, and we are targeting 13,000 MW by 2028," Taye stated on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam.
While the Ethiopian government has achieved an overall electricity access rate of 54%, nearly half of the country's population, some 60 million citizens, still lack access to electricity due to challenges that need to be addressed, the top official noted, stressing that with the support of international financial institutions and philanthropic organizations, the goal of making electricity more accessible in Ethiopia is feasible.
"This ambitious endeavor requires substantial investment, demanding annual investment of $1.8 billion over the four or five years period" Taye said.
Furthermore, Ethiopia set a national Universal Energy Access program aiming to provide electricity to around 3.4 million households by 2028, and mobilizes domestic resources, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) bonds, to achieve its goals.