Ethiopia to supply electricity to Tanzania
Ethiopia is set to export up to 100 megawatts of electricity to Tanzania, marking a step in regional energy trade. This deal is expected to pave the way for the flow of Ethiopian-generated power through Kenya to reach Tanzanian consumers, once final agreements are finalized.
Moges Mekonnen, a spokesperson for Ethiopian Electric Power, confirmed that the initial export volume of 100 megawatts could be subject to revision during upcoming discussions, as the nations fine-tune the details of the deal.
The electricity will be transmitted via high-voltage lines from Ethiopia’s southern region of Sodo, passing through Kenya’s Suswa station, and then on to Arusha in northern Tanzania. The agreement between Kenya and Tanzania, which enables this cross-border transmission, has already been signed and is now awaiting regulatory approval, according to John Mativo, CEO of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
This development comes as Ethiopia seeks to expand its role as a regional energy supplier, leveraging its growing hydropower capacity. The country has constructed several major dams, including the ambitious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), to meet domestic energy needs and fuel its burgeoning manufacturing sector. Hydropower exports to neighboring countries, such as Kenya, have already begun, with Kenya importing 200 megawatts of Ethiopian electricity since 2022.
