Ethiopia expanding electricity access and power sector reforms under Mission 300 roadmap – Minister

Addis Ababa, March 5, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia is advancing efforts to expand electricity access and implement reforms in the power sector under its National Energy Compact within the Mission 300 initiative, Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa Geleta said.

Speaking at Mission 300 Day on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, the minister outlined Ethiopia’s progress and priorities under the roadmap aimed at accelerating electricity access and strengthening sector sustainability.

Mission 300 — a program led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank — seeks to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 through reforms, investment mobilization and enhanced public-private partnerships.

Ethiopia is part of the second cohort of Mission 300 countries and has developed its National Energy Compact as a strategic framework to expand electricity access, attract investment and improve the efficiency and sustainability of the power sector.

The compact was formally endorsed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 in the presence of Taye Atske-Selassie, reaffirming Ethiopia’s commitment to energy development and international cooperation.

During the stocktake plenary session, Minister Habtamu highlighted ongoing investments in electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure as part of efforts to expand access nationwide.

He emphasized Ethiopia’s continued reliance on renewable energy — particularly hydropower — while pursuing diversification of the energy mix and strengthening the resilience of the power system.

The minister also noted reforms aimed at improving the financial sustainability and operational efficiency of the power sector and creating conditions that encourage greater private sector participation in energy infrastructure.

Regional energy cooperation remains a growing component of Ethiopia’s strategy, with electricity exports already underway to neighboring countries and additional cross-border interconnections under development to enhance regional power integration.

Ethiopia’s environmental and climate commitments were also underscored, including the Green Legacy Initiative and participation in global climate discussions ahead of COP30. The country is scheduled to host COP32 in 2027, reinforcing its role in international environmental dialogue.

Later in the Mission 300 Day program, Ethiopia is expected to present its National Energy Compact, detailing the roadmap for expanding electricity and clean cooking access and supporting sustainable economic development through energy sector development and investment.