First International Symposium in Geothermal Energy in Ethiopia this week in Addis Ababa
Participants of the Ethiopia International Seminar on Geothermal Energy, Oct. 2019 (source: TMGO)
Alexander Richter
2 Oct 2019
The First International Symposium on Geothermal Energy in Ethiopia commenced yesterday in Addis Ababa. Organised by Addis Ababa Science and Technology University in collaboration with Tulu Moye Geothermal Operation, USAID, and Power Africa, the event has brought together representatives from institutions and private geothermal companies as well as professionals from Africa, Europe, and the USA.
The First International Symposium on Geothermal Energy in Ethiopia commenced yesterday here in Addis. Dr. Dereje Engida President of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) told journalists that so far, Ethiopia has not produced energy from geothermal. However, works are underway to get benefit out of it.
According to him, Electrification Policy was already endorsed by the government and Public Private Partnership is supported by this policy. According to him, neighboring country Kenya produces nearly 850 MW energy from geothermal and Ethiopia has to work more in this regard.
Since the sector demands huge amount of capital, the cost could not be covered merely by the government. The contribution of stakeholders is needed, the President said.
“We have enabling policy and resources; but we lack skilled manpower in the sector. Developing human capital and close this gap is critical to bring about the desired change,” he said.
Meseret Teklemariam (PhD), Program Manager of Energy at the United Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP), also said that African countries including Ethiopia are blessed with different renewable energy sources – water, solar, wind, and geothermal. “We have to exploit these energy sources for sustainable development.”
“We have to make the youths more productive by offering the necessary training through strengthening University- Industry Linkage,” she said.
She stressed that maintaining development is impossible without sustainable energy. At the same time, fulfilling energy demand by depending simply on water energy is unthinkable.
Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) Center of Excellence for Sustainable Energy (CoE-SE) and Center of Excellence for Mineral Exploration, Extraction and Processing (CoE-MEEP), in collaboration with Tulu Moye Geothermal Operation, USAID, and Power Africa have organized the Symposium.
At the Symposium, government senior officials, energy-related institutions, representatives of higher education institutions and private geothermal companies as well as professionals from Africa, Europe, and the USA have participated.
Source: Press Office Ethiopia
