A consultative meeting involving government officials and community representatives was held in Yirgalem City to address the growing challenge of theft and vandalism targeting electrical infrastructure in the Sidama Regional State.

During the discussion, Mr. Mitiku Nigussie, Director of Ethiopian Electric Power’s (EEP) South One Region, presented an overview of the utility’s institutional background and ongoing operations in the area.

He noted that EEP is working toward its strategic vision of becoming a reliable power supplier by 2030, with the capacity to meet both national and continental energy demands in line with international standards.
Mr. Mitiku emphasized that despite significant public investment in large-scale power generation and transmission projects, these assets remain vulnerable to damage due to limited community engagement in their protection.

He warned that such acts not only destroy national assets but also undermine efforts to ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply for the public.
Providing further insight, Mr. Mosisa Gelcha, Transmission Line Maintenance Manager for the region, presented survey findings illustrating the scale of the problem.
The assessment identified theft-prone kebeles and locations, the number of transmission towers affected the types of components stolen, instances of tower collapse, and the resulting financial losses measured in Birr.

At the conclusion of the meeting, administrators called for improved coordination among government institutions and local communities, stressing shared responsibility in safeguarding power infrastructure.

Officials from EEP’s South One Region, leaders of the Sidama Regional State, zonal and district administrators, security agencies, religious leaders, community elders, and representatives of women’s associations attended the consultative forum.