Power rationing in Ethiopia

31 Oct, 2010

Due to the restricted capacity of existing transmission lines and the delayed expansion work on new lines, the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) has announced a power-rationing programme and ordered industries to decrease their use of electricity by halting production between the hours of 18.00 and 22.00.

As a result of a 24 per cent increase in usage over the last year, the corporation has difficulty keeping up with demand. Power cuts without warnings during peak hours have become a daily occurence. The electricity transmission system is currently being upgraded in a project which is supported by the World Bank.

The EEPCo also states that the recent strain on the country's electricity supply has is the result of insufficient amounts of electricity being generated by the country