Addis Ababa, March 15, 2024 — Ethiopia has achieved a significant milestone by generating over $1 billion in revenue from electricity exports to neighboring countries within the last 18 months, ending in the 2015 Ethiopian fiscal year. The announcement was made by Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Etefa in an interview.

This financial achievement underscores Ethiopia's emerging status as a key player in the regional energy sector, promoting integration and cooperation among East African nations. The minister pointed out a consistent 15% annual increase in demand for Ethiopian electricity, indicating a robust market and the country's reliability as an energy supplier.

Ethiopia's strategic partnerships, notably with Sudan, Djibouti, and Kenya, have been pivotal in this success. The Ethiopia-Kenya power grid interconnection is particularly noteworthy, enhancing the scope for electricity exports to reach as far as South Africa through the East African Power Pool.

Highlighting Ethiopia's commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly energy production, Minister Habtamu emphasized that 93% of the nation's electricity comes from hydropower.

Plans are underway to expand the export market to include South Sudan, further establishing Ethiopia as a cornerstone of clean energy in the region.