From APA via  Star Africa

Preparation of a legal framework that would help Ethiopia benefit from the “Power Africa” initiative is nearing completion, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity said on Thursday.

Since Ethiopia is one of the beneficiaries of the program, preparation of a legal framework is nearing completion to practically implement the initiative, Wondimu Tekle, State Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity said.

He said the only thing left is the approval of the framework by the national parliament.

The legal framework has also a significant contribution to address problems being witnessed in power transmission cables and for the success of Ethiopia’s electric power export program.

Ethiopia missed that target of raising electricity coverage to 75 percent in the first Growth and Transformation Plan period over the last five years by attaining only 55 percent. However, efforts are underway to raise the coverage to 100 percent after five years.

“Power Africa” initiative is expected to double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia are beneficiaries of the project.

The 7 billion US dollars initiative help bring 10,000 megawatt of electricity for about 60 million Africans in sub-Saharan Africa.

Some 30 billion US dollars is required to attain the goal of powering all of Africa by 2030, and in this regard, Power Africa program is expected to have a significant contribution for the success of the objective.

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