Masdar and the Government of Ethiopia, are exploring the development of solar power projects with a total capacity of 500 MW, along with the related grid infrastructure across Ethiopia.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, signed a MoU at a ceremony on 13th March at the Prime Minister’s office in Addis Ababa, the country’s capital.

The signing was witnessed by Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, who presided over the ceremony, and Mohamed Salem Al Rashdi, the UAE’s Ambassador to Ethiopia.

The agreement covers the development, design, engineering, financing, procurement, construction, commissioning, testing, insurance, operation, ownership, maintenance and transfer of PV plants, and the infrastructure required to transmit the electricity. Additional plans call for the signing of power purchase agreements and other agreements later this year, and to begin commercial operations by 2022.

"This initiative will mark a significant step forward for Ethiopia’s efforts to diversify its energy mix and to drive economic development," said Al Ramahi. "Masdar has been a catalyst for renewable energy and clean tech innovation in more than 30 countries around the whole world, and we look forward to working with the Government of Ethiopia to help deliver universal access to electricity for all its people."

While Ethiopia’s electricity grid is almost 100% supplied by clean energy sources, chiefly hydropower, more than 1/2 of its population still lacks direct access to electricity. Ethiopia’s National Electrification Program targets to achieve universal energy access by year 2025, and to become a power hub in Eastern Africa. The government is also focused on diversifying its energy mix with wind, solar, and geothermal sources to reduce dependence on hydropower, which is vulnerable to fluctuations in rainfall.