Industrialization-Ethiopia - Speaking at the launch of a new hydro-electricity power plant, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, expressed satisfaction with the progress made in implementing the country’s industrialization plan. Meles said Ethiopia’s new growth plan, the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), which seeks ambitious industrial expansion, the creation of new electricity dams and the construction of at least 10 industrial factories, was already bearing fruits. Meles said the implementation of the programmes earmarked under the growth plan, was a sign that Ethiopians were willing to work together to achieve their dreams.

The Ethiopian Premier launched the Fincha-al-Amerti-Neshe power plant, some 300 km outside Addis Ababa, the capital. The new power plant would inject an additional 97 megawatt of power into the East African nation.

Ethiopia is gearing to become East Africa’s largest power producer. Its current plans are seeking to generate 10,000 MW of power for domestic consumption and export.

Ethiopia and Kenya agreed last week to a power purchase agreement under which Kenya will pay 0.07 US cents for every kilowatt hour (Kwh) of power from Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s current plan of building the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, projected to generate some 5,250 MW and the Gibe-III, planned to produce 1,800MW are currently in the works.

Meles praised Ethiopians for contributing funds towards the construction of the dam.

Ethiopian agents have been issuing bonds to raise the funds for the dam construction.

Meles said the plan was to boost power production to at least 10,000 MW over the next five years.

Ethiopian authorities are also working towards the expansion of the sugar factories and there are also plans to build at least 10 new sugar factories over the next five years.

Meles said some 6,000 hectares of land had also been earmarked for irrigation under the GTP, launched in 2011 during a lavish ceremony.

Ethiopia has been battling with environmental critics who say its construction of the massive dams could alter the lives of millions of people in Ethiopia and Uganda.

Pana 20/12/2011