ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia plans to build a 100MW solar power project at an estimated cost of 100 million U.S. dollars starting early next year, an official said on Friday.
Speaking exclusively to Xinhua, Bizuneh Tolcha, Director of Public Relations and Communications Directorate at the Ethiopian Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE) said the solar project would be the largest of its kind in Ethiopia.
While Ethiopia plans to increase its energy producing capacity from the current 4,200MW to 17,300MW, so far the East African country generates its energy almost exclusively from hydro, wind and geothermal energy sources.
Solar projects in Ethiopia have until now been restricted to solar-powered lanterns and other appliances for mainly rural people who aren't connected to the national grid.
"The 100MW solar power project will be built on an Independent Power Purchasing (IPP) basis, by a private company, which will sell the energy at an agreed price to the government for 20 years" Tolcha added.
The Ethiopian government will after 20 years be able to take ownership of the solar power project.
Tolcha declined to disclose the name of the company that is entrusted to build the solar power project which is expected to take 22 months to complete.
The solar power project, which is located in Oromia regional state, is 185 kms east of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
