Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) has announced that it is currently undertaking major capacity expansion and modernization works across its substations.
According to Mr. Wondwosen Wolde Mariam, Director of the Operation and Maintenance Directorate for Substations and Transmission Lines, EEP has planned and initiated the replacement of 15 kV and 33 kV switchgears at 24 substations during the current fiscal year.
He explained that, over the past few months, renovation work has been fully completed at the Hormat, Awash 7 Kilo, Wolkite, Kombolcha, Wolaita Sodo One, and Alem Ketema substations.
The director noted that substations currently unable to serve additional customers have been identified, and capacity enhancement activities are actively underway.At present, transformers with capacities ranging from 50 MVA to 250 MVA are being installed at mobile substations in Sululta, Kombolcha Two, Legetafo, and Jimma, as well as at Mizan and Bale Robe.
He also mentioned that the procurement of additional transformers is in progress to support similar upgrades at other substations identified as requiring capacity expansion.
Spare parts required for maintenance, including 15 kV and 33 kV circuit breakers, batteries, and Static Var Compensator (SVC) devices for voltage regulation at the Holeta and Didesa substations, along with other high-voltage switching equipment, are available in the agency’s warehouse.
The director added that EEP is also working to procure additional essential replacement components and equipment for substations, including mobile cranes.
Construction of 17 storage facilities is underway across eight regions to properly organize substation materials. Among these, storage facilities at the Kemise, Kombolcha Two, Anfo Meda, Jijiga, and Hawassa Two substations have already been completed.
During the first quarter, hands-on training was provided to enhance the skills of professionals responsible for deploying emergency restoration towers for high-voltage transmission lines. As a result, this work can now be fully carried out using in-house capacity.
The director further emphasized that focused inspection activities are being intensified to identify areas vulnerable to high-voltage transmission tower collapses, helping prevent system-wide disruptions within the national grid.
EEP currently manages 145 distribution substations across 13 regions.
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