Completion of GERD Would Avail Clean, Affordable Energy & Strengthen Cooperation: Experts Power will Strengthen Economic ties, Cooperation in Africa: Experts
Ethiopia’s combined electric power, after the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) goes operational, will be a source of affordable and clean energy for many African countries and strengthen economic ties and cooperation, water experts said.
GERD Negotiating Team Member, Yakob Arsano told ENA that Ethiopia’s electric power potential from hydro dams would exponentially increase to 45,000MW after the full commissioning of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The 45,000MW hydroelectric power, combined with many other energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal, would be surplus for domestic needs of the country.
According to him, the electric power supply to other countries will be a source of economic integration and cooperation in the continent.
“Countries that buy electricity from different sources of energy will profit if they purchase Ethiopia’s clean and affordable hydroelectric power,” Yakob noted.
According to him, feasibility studies show that the country has the exclusive natural comparative advantage of producing hydroelectric power with low cost.
“Ethiopia has huge potential to supply clean electric power to many countries at an affordable price. This needs maintaining the unity and stability of the country and integrating electric power generation with other economic developments to facilitate regional integration.”
The GERD negotiating team member revealed that African countries, including Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya, are considering purchasing electric power from Ethiopia.
“Sudan and Djibouti will buy, and Kenya is completing the preparation of high voltage carrying transmission lines in collaboration with Ethiopia.”
In the future, neighboring countries and even Middle Eastern and European countries may need electric supply from Ethiopia, he added.
Ethiopia’s potential of exporting electric power could “reach Egypt, Morocco, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Yemen, Jordan and Turkey,” Yakob said, adding that “many European countries use nuclear energy, which is dangerous, and may prefer electric power supply from Ethiopia in the future.”
Addis Ababa University African Studies Institute Lecturer, Mohammed Hassen said on his part the combined electric power from GERD and other sources of energy will meet domestic needs and be instrumental to economic ties and cooperation with other countries.
“The completion of the dam will have economic benefits, especially for neighboring countries, not only in electricity supply and earning but also in strengthening economic relations and cooperation with the countries. Then it could shift the longtime hostile Horn of Africa to a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment,” Mohammed elaborated.
The scholar further pointed out the need to enhance unity, maintain security and resist external pressures and interference on GERD, which will have a significant contribution to national and regional development targets, including AU’s Agenda 2063.
The construction of GERD has recently jumped over 80 percent and the second phase filling of the reservoir was completed to enable the generating of 700MW that increases the current potential by 14 percent.
Source: Ethiopia News Agency