Search results

Ethiopia’s ‘unilateral action’ in starting limited power generation at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) violates its diplomatic obligations, Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry told the Council of the League of Arab States on 9 March.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a commitment of up to $165m for the Leveraging Energy Access Finance Framework (Leaf) programme, which promotes solar home systems, green mini-grids and solar PV systems for commercial and industrial offtakers.

The commercial use of thermolysis or pyrolysis to convert organic waste into biofuels, syngas or pure hydrogen is still experimental in Africa, although the underlying technology is relatively well-established elsewhere. Most of the 22 operating biogas power plants recorded in African Energy Live Data use other methods. Early adopters of the technology include the Ford Silverton plant in Pretoria, H2-Industries and Oak Group Holdings in Egypt, Ghana’s Kumasi Technical University and the British Nigerian Pyrogenesys-led consortium. Success for any one of them will open wide new commercial opportunities, while also helping to address pressing environmental concerns.

Industry players continue to make bullish sounds about projects in Ethiopia, despite the murderous conflict pitting the Abiy Ahmed government against Tigrayan rebels that is putting some financing on hold and leading to geopolitical realignments in the region, writes Dan Marks

The rapid advance of the Tigrayan Defence Force (TDF) and its United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces (UFEFC) allies has led many to speculate that the Tirgayans’ promise to take Addis Ababa may be realised.

Analysts have cast doubt on the government’s claims to have killed or injured 130 mercenaries linked to insurgents in Tigray who, the government said, planned to bomb the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd).

Much of the analysis of Gerd still refers to the project as having 6GW generation capacity. African Energy Live Data’s figure is lower at 4.9GW. The reason for this is simple: the project was derated in 2020, as noted in a report from the Italian main contractor Webuild (formerly Salini Impregilo).

The African Development Bank (AfDB) board has approved two grants worth a combined $83.6m to build a second transmission line between Ethiopia and Djibouti. The grants were secured from the AfDB’s African Development Fund, with $69.65m for Ethiopia and $13.95m for Djibouti.

A collision of interests over two of Africa’s most high-profile national mega-projects – Egypt’s planned El Dabaa nuclear plant and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) – illustrates that grand schemes come with heavy geopolitical as well as financial costs, and that all the players have to calculate their interests carefully in a volatile region.

The first indications are emerging that water levels in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) are beginning to rise, as part of the announced second filling. Satellite imagery taken on 28 June showed some areas of land under water compared with imagery from 8 June.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed set out an ambitious reform programme when he came to power in 2018, but the pace of change has been slow. The government has had to contend with a hugely difficult political and security environment, with regional coup attempts, conflict and riots, and a packed legislative and policy programme – as well as a deeply ingrained scepticism of international business – although there are signs the next generation of managers and politicians has a different outlook.

 In the face of vocal opposition from Egypt and Sudan, which are reliant on water from the Nile, Ethiopia faces strategic challenges in its efforts to build the 4,875MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd). The giant dam’s construction is now around 80% complete and is expected to reach generation capacity in 2023. While diplomatic solutions remain elusive, the Gerd will retain its potential to set sabres rattling and tensions are undoubtedly rising.

The Tigray conflict that has engulfed Ethiopia since last November is rooted in unresolved regional tensions that stem from the overthrow of Mengistu Haile Mariam’s one-party state in 1991 by an alliance of ethno-nationalist groups. Following a 16-year civil war, two principal rebel groups emerged in government led by Tigrinya-speaking neighbours the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) and Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The withdrawal of US development institutions from Ethiopia after sanctions were imposed has unnerved investors who worry others might follow and, although old hands suspect Addis Ababa will muddle through, Tigray remains stalked by famine as the Horn’s latest conflict drags on, write Dan Marks and Marc Howard.

Two years ago, few in the international community imagined that standout development performer Ethiopia would again be wracked by civil war. Abiy Ahmed, who became prime minister in April 2018, possessed impeccable dovish credentials. A devout Pentecostal Christian who earned a doctorate in peace and conflict research from Addis Ababa University the year before his accession to the premiership, Abiy was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ending the 20-year-old conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.