Ethiopian minister shed light on efforts to attract international investors in the future development of the power sector
Dr. Seleshi Bekele, Ethiopian Minister for Water, Irrigation and Electricity will set the stage for the panel discussion on Ethiopia at this year’s Africa Energy Forum.
Ethiopia is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies and has a clear ambition to maintain its economic growth and support the development of the country. In addition, Ethiopia is one of the most progressive developing countries in global climate negotiations, contributing with an ambitious input to the Paris Agreement and taking an active role in the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF).
The high ambitions are clearly reflected in the five-year plan for the power sector, where the Government of Ethiopia is planning to increase the national power generation capacity from renewable energy sources significantly by 2020. High priority will continue to be given to hydropower, which is the backbone of the country’s energy sector. In addition, significant amounts of wind, geothermal, solar and bio-mas will be developed in order to strengthen the climate resilience of the Ethiopian economy. Meanwhile the Government of Ethiopia is implementing an ambitious program to bring access to sustainable energy to all citizens in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
For quotation, Dr. Seleshi highlights: “Our expansion in new renewable energy generating capacity and energy access is open up to be developed through the private sector and public-private partnerships. Now, I want to shed light on Ethiopia’s effort to attract international investors, as there will be a need to mobilize substantial amounts of capital. Ethiopia is a country that is recording a strong and sustained economic growth, a stable political environment, and conducive business setting for private investment. In other words, Ethiopia’s power sector development is a huge market opportunity”.
The session at the Africa Energy Forum will feature dedicated panellist speakers from leading energy companies such as Generel Electric and Voith Hydro as well as financial investors. It will also highlight Ethiopia’s strong, trust-based cooperation with international partners, including Power Africa, State Grid Corporation of China and the Danish Energy Agency.
For interviews and questions related to Dr. Seleshi’s participation in the Africa Energy Forum 2017, contact: Mr. Sahele Tamiru Fekede, Director for the Directorate for Energy Planning and Development Follow-Up, Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electicity, tel. no. +251 912 425 094.
