Kenya, Ethiopia in talks over electricity imports from GERD

Kenya and Ethiopia have started talks on Nairobi’s plans to buy electricity from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that began generating power on Sunday. This is according to Ethiopia’s ambassador to Kenya, Meles Alem.

Meles wrote on his Facebook page that power exports to Kenya are part of Ethiopia’s “Economic diplomacy which is at the center of the country’s foreign policy”.

The Nairobi meeting came a day after the Horn of Africa nation announced that its controversial dam on the Blue Nile River had begun generating electricity.

Earlier this month, Kenya reached a new agreement with Ethiopia to import hydro-processed green power.

The arrangement was reached after an Ethiopian delegation, led by Ethiopia’s state minister for finance, Eyob Tekalign (PhD), visited Nairobi on February 2-4.

The neighbours had deliberated on previously signed power trade agreements and deals on the interconnection of power systems in light of progress made on each side.

A statement from Ethiopia’s ministry of foreign affairs said the new deal made in Nairobi intends to “realise the aspirations of both countries’ respective people for regional economic integration and sustainable development”.

During a February 4 meeting with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Dr Monica Juma, Eyob said the close relationship between Kenya and Ethiopia would help spur economic growth.