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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Ethiopia-Djibouti Power Interconnections Project Receives Funding Approval
Reported by Getachew Teklemariam Alemu in Addis Ababa

On Wednesday, 8 October 2008 in Tunis, Tunisia, the Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF), the concessionary window of the AfDB Group, approved a combined loan and grant for the equivalent to US$ 32.57 million to fund the Ethiopia-Djibouti Power Interconnections Project.

Under the approvals, Ethiopia will receive UA 5.20 million (US$ 8.3) while Djibouti gets UA 15.72 (US$ 24.48 million) to finance the project, which aims at improving electricity access at affordable prices in the two countries. It is also expected to result in jobs creation and poverty reduction through the provision of modern, affordable energy services.

In 2002, Ethiopia and Djibouti signed an agreement to implement the power interconnection project in order to develop available energy resources for their mutual benefit. The AfDB Bank Group in 2004 approved a combined US$ 56 million from its multilateral window to finance the project.

Major components of the current completion project include the development of a power transmission network (construction of transmission lines and substations); the electrification of border towns; project supervision and management; as well as institutional support to the Djibouti Electricity Company (EdD) and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO).

One of the first of its kind in the Horn of Africa, the project is expected to improve the power trade within the region. When completed, it will be a component of the Eastern Africa Power Pool that is currently under development.

The project’s economic internal rate of return is estimated at 29% based on the revenues generated by exports and the electrification of border towns, the establishment of new business enterprises induced by the availability of electricity in the area, cost savings from imported power and increased consumption as result of reduced price of electricity power tariff in Djibouti.

The total cost of the project is estimated at UA 73.79 million. The ADF will finance 95.26% of the foreign exchange cost (UA 57.89 million) and 11.60% of local cost (i.e. UA 1.51 million) of the project. The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation EEPCO will finance 4.74% of the foreign cost (UA 2.88 million) and 73.35% of local costs (9.55 million). The Djibouti Electricity Company will finance 15.05% of the local costs of the project (UA 1.96 million).




Getachew Teklemariam Alemu

Getachew Teklemariam Alemu
International Correspondent Ethiopia


Mr. Getachew Teklemariam Alemu is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr. Alemu is also an Infrastructure Projects Expert in the Development Projects Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, government of Ethiopia. This department is responsible for studying and controlling the project planning and management system at the federal level in the country. Getachew is responsible for monitoring, appraising and reporting on public sector infrastructure projects financed by the Ethiopian government or bilateral and multilateral donors. He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection from Mekelle University in Ethiopia. He has also been educated in macro economic development, infrastructure development in developing countries, national economic development and project management. More information about Getachew Teklemariam can be found at Getachew Alemu named International Correspondent for PMForum in Ethiopia; Getachew can be contacted at getdem2006@yahoo.com.



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