Introduction and Background

Ethiopia’s main power supply system is made up of a publicly owned and operated interconnected system with a total 4,418 MW installed generation capacity and there are also small operational and active off-grid self-contained systems supplied by diesel generators and hybrid solar-diesel with a total installed capacity of 21.8 MW in 2021.The energy sector was identified as a priority sector in Ethiopia as laid in the National Development Plan Accordingly, the Government of Ethiopia, with the support of development partners, prioritized investments in the country’s electricity sector, to strengthen and expand transmission capacity to meet the energy needs of the country. Access to electricity has been created so far for 47% of the population with 95% in urban and 32% in rural areas (34 % through the main grid and 11 % using off-grid technologies).The ultimate goal of the Hurso – Harar IV – Jigjiga 400 kV Power Transmission Line Project is expanding 400 kV network from Hurso to Jigjiga via Harar.The nature and impact magnitude of the proposed project, as per the Ethiopian EIA Guideline and AfDB’s Environmental and Social Assessment Procedures, it is classified as Schedule 1 and Category 1, respectively. Thus, the project requires an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).