Addis Ababa, 21 May 2015 (WIC) – Adama II Wind Farm, which is capable of generating 153 megawatts electricity, was inaugurated yesterday.
This input would increase the 171 MWs electric power obtained from wind to 324 MWs.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn said the country is striving to be among the few countries competing in the sector by strengthening its activities in generating renewable energy.
In the project were involved, Adama Science and Technology and Mekele universities.
The government is also ready to seriously involve universities in other similar projects that the country would undertake, the premier said.
He pointed out that the production of big machinery would be carried out locally since the power generation will be huge in the future.
Hailemariam urged the private sector to get organized and engage in this sector that is now handled by the Metal and Engineering Corporation.
Efforts would be exerted to make the country not only self-sufficient in meeting its power needs but also export electricity to neighboring countries in the coming ten years, he noted.
Oromia Regional State Chief Administrator, Muktar Kedir said on his part the project will benefit rural communities that had no access to electricity and also contributes to the plan to integrate neighboring countries with electricity.
Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister, Alemayehu Tegenu stated that reliable and sustainable provision of electric power is one of the crucial inputs to the fast economy growth that the country has been registering.
To fulfill the demand of energy in the country, renewable power generating projects such as hydro, wind, geothermal, solar and dry waste are being used, he indicated.
Ethiopian Electric Power Chief Executive Officer, Azeb Asnake said diverse projects are being executed in order to adequately meet the power demand of the country.
The Adama II Wind Farm Project, which was launched in 2013, cost 345 million USD, it was learned.
Some 85 percent of the cost was covered from loan obtained from China and the remaining sum by Ethiopia.
According to ENA, the wind farm is expected to generate 477 GWs electricity annually.