The government of Ethiopia in collaboration with the Danish Energy Agency has issued a plan for the development of a wind power project across the country.

This plan covers a spectrum of issues including site selection, grid and bankable data to power sales, financing, procurement policies as well as operation and maintenance.

According to the minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity Seleshi Bekele, the government is initiating a series of actions towards transforming the power sector regulatory framework to involve private sector.

Furthemore, the government will also focus on provision of adequate power supply, creation of a more resilient power system through diversification of the generation mix, regional power system integration and power trade as well as scaling up access of electricity to all.

“To achieve an attractive business environment there is a great need for concerted efforts to develop robust institutional, regulatory and legal frameworks,” Bekele said.

Upgrading institutional arrangements in line with the Public-Private Partnership law will enable speedy and efficient delivery process to meet the ever-growing demand for electricity of the country.

According to Bekele, wind power in the diversified energy mix will contribute to protect against frequent droughts due to climate change that pose a strategic threat to hydropower, which will continue to be the power system backbone for years to come.

Private investments

Danish Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mette Thygesen said the plan will enable the mobilization of much needed private investments.

It is aimed at providing an up-to-date, logically organized framework for prioritizing initiatives and procedures for developing and scaling up wind power in Ethiopia.

Thygesen noted that modern wind power is a cost-effective energy source that can be installed in a short time-frame.