Ethiopia: Work begins at Aluto Langano geothermal plant

Drilling has begun at the site of the Aluto geothermal power plant expansion project phase III. The project to expand the 7MW pilot plant operating on the site will involve drilling 20 deep geothermal wells, installing a heat-gathering system, and building a 70MW power plant and switchyard and a 13km 132kV transmission line from the power plant to Adami Tulu, where a new substation will be built. A feasibility study for generation of power from the Aluto Langano geothermal field was conducted in March 2010 by Ernst and Young ShinNihon LLC, Japan External Trade Organisation and West Japan Engineering Consultants.