Ethiopia govt signs agreement with Spanish, Chinese firms for 12 solar energy projects

The Ethiopian government has awarded 12 small-scale solar energy development projects to one Spanish firm and three Chinese firms.

The multiple small-scale solar energy development projects will be built in almost all parts of Ethiopia at a cost of over 296 million birr (about USD 10.3 million). The agreement with government of Ethiopia and Spanish and Chinese firms was signed on Friday, May 31.

Three, of the 12 projects, three will be built in Oromia, two in Amhara, two in southern region while Somali, Tigray, Afar, Benishangul Gumuz and Gambella regions will each have one solar project. Once the projects totally get accomplished, it will bring light to over 67,700 rural homes, as revealed during the agreement signing ceremony.

About 25 projects are under a design phase and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $15 million loan and grant for the projects. The World Bank Group and AfDB approved USD 400 million and USD 100 million grant and credit, respectively, for similar power development projects.

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