To commence a practicable study of power link between the country and Gulf countries, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity has signed a MoU with the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority and the International Energy Linking Organisation (GEIDCO).The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Industry of the UAE and member of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority, Dr Matar Al Nayadi, and Chairman of GEIDCO, Prof Liu Xinya were present at the signing ceremony.
The interconnection of energy between countries, regions and continents is one of the most important ways to unite people for mutual benefit and economic prosperity said the Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity of Ethiopia, Dr Engineer Seleshi Bekele, on the occasion.
Dr Mattar Al-Neyadi, also added that the Gulf Electricity Interconnection project is one of the most important infrastructure projects approved by the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to provide energy security and raise the level of reliability and safety of the Gulf electrical systems.
He mentioned that the linking projects focuses on to spare the GCC electricity networks for any partial or total interruption by 100 percent by enhancing instantaneous support for the required power transmission via the electrical connection network directly.
After that, the Executive Chairman of the Authority, Ahmed Al-Ibrahim, spoke about the GCC countries those are very hopeful of the agreement with Ethiopia given the country’s huge water capacity that can be utilized in generating electricity and will be exported to the countries in the Gulf.
He further added saying the available hydropower in Ethiopia is cheap and easy to use, and the Horn of Africa country needs electricity projects such as those currently being studied in the Gulf, adding that “this new energy will be more available to the GCC especially at peak times.”