Addis Ababa, February 22, 2007 (WIC) - The Aluto-Langano Geothermal Power Pilot Project that has been under rehabilitation and expansion with over 26.6 million birr to generate 30 MW would be finalized within four months, the project coordinator disclosed.
Geothermal Project Coordinator with EEPCo, Mulugeta Asaye,said the project which failed to operate due to technical reasons after being finalized in 1998 is being upgraded to generate 30 MW instead of the initially planned 8 MW.
A feasibility study that has been underway in Tendaho area of Afar State with close to 2.5 million birr, in accordance with the agreement reached between the governments of Ethiopia and USA, is also nearing completion, according to Mulugeta.
Aluto-Langano and Tendaho are the major geothermal projects expected to generate power in the foreseeable future, he said, adding that there are about 16 geothermal prospects identified in the country.
According to the coordinator, project proposals have been submitted to the African Rift Geothermal Development Facility (ARGeo) so as to obtain the necessary fund to construct power generation stations particularly in Tendaho and Aluto-Lanagano. ARGeo has promised that Ethiopia would be one of the countries whose proposals would be approved first, Mulugeta said.
Ethiopia has the second largest geothermal resources in Africa and the greatest geothermal potential of Africa is within the East African Rift Valley that runs across Ethiopia for nearly 1,000kms where a number of feasibility studies are currently underway, it was learnt.
Source: Walta Information Center
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