The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) has signed a contract accord with the Chinese Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC) for the construction of Genale Dawa 3 Hydropower Project
When completed Genale is projected to generate 254 megawatts of electricity, equal to 1,640 gigawatt-hours annually
After Gilgel Gibe II’s tunnel collapse the corporation failed to fully meet the country’s power demand that stands at over 1,200 mw.
EEPCo’s current capacity is almost 1,000 mw of power from its six operational hydropower plants, including the recently inaugurated Tekezze
The potential power production of the country has been estimated to be about 45,000 mw. Of this, only 870 mw has been developed and another 3,270 mw is under-construction.
Another new hydropower station, Beles, will be ready in May this year. It will have a capacity of generating 460 mw of power
Under-construction Gibe IV/V, Beko Abo (Caradobi), Halele Worabesa, Chemoga-Yeda and Genale have a combined generating capacity of 6,000 mw.
A budget of some 12 billion dollars has been earmarked for the nation’s 25 year Power Sector Master Plan of which 70 percent is allocated for generating power.