Addis Ababa, August 29, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s expanding clean and renewable energy sector is increasingly contributing not only to domestic electricity supply but also to regional economic integration and foreign-exchange earnings, according to the performance report of Ethiopian Electric Power for the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year.
Ethiopian Electric Power Chief Executive Officer Engineer Asheber Balcha said the country earned 475.7 million USD from electricity exports during the fiscal year, marking a 25 percent increase compared with the same period of the previous year.
The growth reflects Ethiopia’s expanding electricity supply to neighboring countries and its emerging potential as a regional energy hub, according to the performance report.
Hydropower accounted for 97 percent of Ethiopia’s total electricity generation, underscoring the country’s extensive renewable energy potential and its continued reliance on a low-carbon power generation base.
The utility also increased its generation capacity to 9,730 megawatts, registering 23 percent growth during the fiscal year.
The performance enabled Ethiopian Electric Power to record 124.2 billion birr in total revenue for the first time in its history, while posting 39.5 billion birr in net profit.
The utility said it achieved 101.83 percent of its annual plan, reflecting progress in implementing its strategic objectives and expanding the contribution of the energy sector to the national economy.
The performance comes as Ethiopia seeks to leverage its renewable energy resources not only to meet domestic demand but also to deepen regional electricity interconnections and expand economic opportunities through power exports.
The country has also outlined further investments aimed at sustaining the momentum in renewable energy development.
Among the projects planned for the coming years are the Genale Dawa 6 Hydropower Project, the Aisha II Wind Power Project, and a 100-megawatt solar power project to be developed with domestic financing.
The Aisha Wind Power Project is also expected to be fully completed and generate 40 megawatts of electricity.
The planned investments are expected to further expand Ethiopia’s renewable energy portfolio while strengthening its role in regional energy cooperation.
With hydropower continuing to dominate its generation mix and additional wind and solar projects being advanced, Ethiopia is seeking to translate its renewable energy resources into greater energy security, regional connectivity, export earnings and broader economic growth.