At a hybrid of face-to-face and virtual discussion consisting of specialists from various institutions, the Ministry of Water and Energy, World Resources Institute, and Africa Clean Energy officials officially launched Energy Access Explorer on January 17, 2022.
Energy Access Explorer is an online interactive platform that uses mapping to visualize and identify energy resources and demand across Ethiopia. The platform gives essential information to stakeholders such as off-grid & mini-grid developers, energy planners & electrification institutions of countries, and investors. It is part of the governments’ goal to achieve total electrification by 2025 with private sector investment.
Habtamu Itefa, Water and Energy Minister, stated that 55% of Ethiopians do not have access to electricity. Therefore, with the help of investors, the government is using several sources of energy through on-grid and off-grid connections to electrify Ethiopia fully. There will be an additional 34% of on-grid connections and 11% off-grid connections.
Habtamu stressed that the government could not achieve this goal without the private sector. The minister encouraged the solar assembly manufacturer to invest in Ethiopia and help develop the country’s electricity issues.
The government is producing favorable conditions for private sector investments of different forms to motivate investors, including in Public-Private Partnership using various energy sources. The electrification program will enable the educational, health, and agricultural activities to be boosted.
