Open AccessEthiopia hydropower development and Nile basin hydro politics
Author(s) -
Ashebir Dingeto Hailu
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
aims energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2333-8334
pISSN - 2333-8326
DOI - 10.3934/energy.2022006
Subject(s) - hydropower , hydroelectricity , context (archaeology) , per capita , resource (disambiguation) , energy security , natural resource economics , consumption (sociology) , electricity , politics , business , economics , agricultural economics , economic growth , geography , renewable energy , political science , engineering , sociology , social science , demography , archaeology , computer science , law , electrical engineering , computer network , population
Ethiopia, one of the countries in the Horn of Africa, has an abundance of hydroelectric resource potential that can meet the country's energy demand. However, this energy resource has been underutilized, and the country has one of the lowest per capita consumption rates of electricity. Recognizing that energy access and security are critical factors in economic growth, the country has launched a number of hydroelectric projects to meet rising energy demand, as well as a plan to export electricity to neighboring countries. As a result, this paper provides an in-depth review of the country's hydropower potential and current development status. The article then discusses hydro-politics in the context of the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Finally, it discusses the role of hydropower in meeting energy needs.