The Ethiopian Geological Survey has come out in support of increasing the amount of electricity Ethiopia generates through geothermal power
According to the Ethiopian News Agency, the Survey has been working on plans to build geothermal power facilities across the country capable of generating 450MW by 2019.
In May, Ethiopia received a US$50 million grant from the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) after Ethiopia's investment plan, submitted to the CIF's Scaling Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP) for Low Income Countries, was approved by the fund’s committee members.
Ethiopian Geological Survey director Masresha Gebreselassie said that the organisation had also received ETB 16 million (US$900,794) in funding from Geothermal Science consultation, laboratory and drilling services over the course of the last 11 months.
Gebreselassie said that the Survey was currently in the process of developing its geothermal electricity plan due to the country’s significant and unexploited geothermal resources.
The plan presented by Ethiopia to the CIF called for the African Development Bank (AfDB), which works as the implementing agency of the CIF, to offer investment and technical support to execute Phase II of the Aluto Langano Geothermal Project and Assela Wind Farm Project.
The AfDB is now expected to spend US$23 million of the total SREP financing on Ethiopian projects.
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