About 31 mln people living off-grid to gain access to electricity

Addis Ababa, February 12, 2016 (FBC) – The Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity (MoWIE) said 31 million people living off-grid will gain access to electricity over the coming five years.
Works will be carried out to provide electricity in remote rural areas by generating power from small rivers and using other renewable energy sources, Bizuneh Tolcha, Public Relations Director at MoWIE told FBC today.

The power to be generated from about 300 rivers through installing turbines will take the lion’s share, he indicated.

According to Bizuneh, more than 200,000 people living out of the main gird have gained access to electricity in the first growth and transformation plan period.

Sunlight lamps were also distributed for 2 million people, according to the director.