Ethiopia keen on developing geothermal projects

Reported from Africa the “Ethiopian Government seems keen to develop geothermal energy resources of the country”.

“Minister of Mining and Energy, Alemayehu Tegenu reaffirmed government’s commitment toward developing the geothermal energy resource of the nation since the resource is renewable and environmental-friendly.

Alemayehu said Ethiopia aspires to utilize its geothermal energy resource that exists in the refit valley area of the country through strengthening multilateral and bilateral relations.

The minister made the statement on Thursday while opening a half-day relevant workshop organized on the feasibility study of the Aluto-Langano geothermal energy resource of the country.

The government is fully aware that active participation of the private sector remains crucial toward the development of the sector, the minister noted.

The feasibility study aims at developing the Aluto-Langano geothermal energy resource as per the agreement signed between the Governments of Ethiopia and Japan.

Ethiopia has the potential of producing up to 5,000 megawatt electric power from its geothermal energy resource, according to relevant documents.”

I guess one needs to be a bit careful about these statements, as it seems like the project mentioned here, the Aluto-Langano and Tendaho resources have been discussed and research several times. See article on a U.S./ Ethiopian cooperation from 2007, and a Japanese/ Ethiopian MOU signed in 2009.

Source: Nazret.com