Siemens Gamesa has signed its first wind power project in Ethiopia with state-owned electricity company Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), strengthening its leadership in Africa as the country begins to expand its green energy capacity to meet ambitious renewable targets.
The 100 MW Assela wind farm will be located between the towns of Adama and Assela, approximately 150 km south of the capital, Addis Ababa, and will contribute to clean and affordable power for the country’s electricity grid.
The country has set an ambitious target to supply 100% of its domestic energy demand through renewable energy by 2030. According to the African Development Bank, Ethiopia has abundant resources, particularly wind with a potential 10 GW of installation capacity and having installed 324 MW at present.
“Siemens Gamesa is intent on expanding its leadership across Africa, and in turn help a growing transition to green energy across the continent. So, we are extremely pleased to begin work in Ethiopia and look forward to collaborating with both EEP and the country to continue to promote their drive to install more renewables and meet transformational energy targets,” said Roberto Sabalza, CEO for Onshore Southern Europe and Africa at Siemens Gamesa.
According to a Wood Mackenzie forecast, around 2 GW of wind power would be installed in Ethiopia by 2029.
The wind farm will be made up of 29 SG 3.4-132 wind turbines and is expected to be commissioned by the start of 2023. The project will generate about 300,000 MWh per year. Siemens Gamesa will provide full engineering, procurement, and turnkey construction.
The Assela wind project will be financed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs via Danida Business Finance (DBF) adding to a loan agreement signed between the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation (MoFEC) and Danske Bank A/S.
Siemens Gamesa seals its first wind farm project in Ethiopia
Summer wheat cultivation through irrigation promising: PM
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said “summer wheat cultivation through irrigation has been promising thus far.”
“If we continue capitalizing on these gains, our wheat import substitution aspirations will be within reach,” he said in a tweet.
The Ministry of Agriculture recently told the Parliament that cultivation through irrigation this year will help the country to cut wheat import by more than half.
According to the Ministry, Ethiopia imports 17 million quintals of wheat annually.
Ministry to launch six-month anti-COVID19 campaign next week
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced plans to launch a campaign which focused on prevention of COVID19 pandemic.
The six-month campaign will begin as of next Monday, Jan. 11, said the Ministry during a consultation it held with members of the House of People’s Representatives (HPR).
The campaign will be carried out at higher education institutions and schools, service institutions, bus stations, market places, religious institutions, and public spaces.
Members of the House will join the awareness raising campaign that focuses on how to effectively prevent the spread of the pandemic, including wearing facemasks, according to the Ministry.
Boeing to pay $2.5bn over 737 Max conspiracy
Boeing has agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle US criminal charges that it hid information from safety officials about the design of its 737 Max planes.
The US Justice Department said the firm chose “profit over candor”, impeding oversight of the planes, which were involved in two deadly crashes. About $500m will go to families of the 346 people killed in the tragedies. Boeing said the agreement acknowledged how the firm “fell short.”
