Ethiopia signs contract to electrify 25 rural towns with Solar Off-Grid system

#Ethiopia signs contract to electrify 25 rural towns with Solar Off-Grid system.

The Ethiopian Electric Utility signed "construction contract of 25 towns off grid electrification in 8 regions distributed equitably & for distant/remote places. It will be completed in 6 months to serve 145,000 people. Once complete project will have pulling effect to connect more households," Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, said.

"The solution provides 25% cheaper than grid expansion per household. It will also generate about 8MW. Not only light at home but also enables cottage industries, smallholder irrigation other productive uses. It will be a significant economic enabler for rural communities and farmers; brings real social service transformation in access to health, education, information as a real enabler in success of #SDG.

The financing is through #AfDB loan & government of Ethiopia. 12 other sites are recently completed & #Light4All is way to go."

Source: Addis Standard