Ethiopia Seeking to be East African Region's Power Hub

Ethiopia is deepening its power links with neighboring Djibouti.

Ethiopia and Djibouti have opened a 230-kilovolt electric power transmission line, which will allow Djibouti to import 35 megawatts of electricity from Ethiopia.

The $87 million 225 mile-long Ethiopia-Djibouti electric power transmission line will cover more than 60 percent of Djibouti's power demand while earning Ethiopia up to $1.5 million a month from electricity exports, The Sudan Tribune reported.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said at the inauguration ceremony of the transmission line, "The inauguration of the Ethiopia-Djibouti power line project is another milestone in the process of regional economic integration in general and the two sisterly countries in particular. In addition to the traditional railway link the two countries have had for years, we have planned to extend fiber and microwave connections between the two countries thereby to further promote their bilateral cooperation in various aspects," adding that there are additional substantial infrastructure bilateral projects that the two nations hope to implement.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh said, "The successful inauguration of the interconnection is the first in a series of shared projects between the two countries."

Besides Djibouti, Ethiopia intends upon completion of a number of hydroelectric projects to sell electricity to neighboring countries, including Sudan, Egypt, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan.

By. Charles Kennedy, Deputy Editor OilPrice.com