Status of geothermal exploration in Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is located in the horn of Africa. Electricity is one of the modern energy supplies in the country. The current total installed electricity generation has reached over 4,200 MW and the country has to develop over 25,000 MWe by 2030, due to a rapidly rising demand in the last decade which has been forecasted to the future. The government policy direction is to generate virtually all electricity from clean and renewable sources centered on hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar and other renewable energy resources, using public and private sector funds Ethiopia is endowed with large geothermal potential, with 24 areas of high temperature sources and estimated electrical potential of over 10,000 MW. These resources are located in the Ethiopian Rift Valley which is part of the East African Rift system. Various geothermal activities are being carried out in Ethiopia by the public and the private sector, since recent years. The public sector activities included: (i) geothermal master plan study, (ii) surface exploration, deep drilling and testing at Aluto Langano prospect, (iii) surface exploration and feasibility study at Tendaho geothermal prospect, (iv) surface exploration at Shala - Abijata and Butajira prospects and (v) emplacement of new geothermal law and regulations to speed up private sector participations. Seven private sector investors have concessions in various prospects and most of them have completed surface explorations and are preparing to conduct deep drillings. The medium term geothermal development plan of the country envisages to develop 675 MWe from various prospects and the long term plan has set a goal of developing 5000 MWe by 2037.