Addis Ababa, February 21, 2022 (FBC) – Speaking of at the commencement of a technical committee meeting on fast tracking the Power Purchase Agreement between Ethiopia and Kenya on Monday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Ambassador Meles Alem noted that the first power generation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on 20 February 2022 has a strategic significance to the region and beyond as it is timely.
He said, Ethiopia and Kenya have solid, deep and undented relations both at the leaders and peoples levels. Reassuring the participants of the meeting Ethiopia’s continued commitment to this endeavor, Ambassador Meles, reiterated the fact that it’s incumbent upon us to seal the deal and turn a new chapter in our long-standing relations that are predicated on cordiality.
He also called upon the committee to bring the project up to speed and fast track the implementations geared towards realizing the development aspirations of our peoples, whose destinies are inextricably intertwined. He added, energy connectivity compliments our strong ties.
In his introductory remarks, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Energy of the Republic of Kenya, General (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa noted that Kenya and Ethiopia have strong relations dating back to our founding fathers Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Emperor Haile Sellasie I.
He said it’s of utmost importance that Ethiopia and Kenya see through the completion of the project and reiterated the fact that we have a duty to our respective nations to bring the project to fruition. The PPA was signed between Ethiopia and Kenya in 2012.