Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) has signed an agreement with China-based Norinco International Corporation for the construction of the Assosa 2 400 kV substation, a major component of the Guba–Assosa 2 400 kV Power Transmission Project.
The agreement signed by Engineer Ashebir Balcha, Chief Executive Officer of EEP, and Mr. Du Xiaodong, Vice President of Norinco International Corporation, during a ceremony held in Addis Ababa.
Speaking at the ceremony, Engineer Ashebir said EEP has maintained a longstanding partnership with Norinco International through the implementation of major energy infrastructure projects in Ethiopia, dating back to the Tekeze Hydroelectric Power Project.
He said the Assosa 2 substation project will play an important role in improving power reliability in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region and creating favorable conditions for increased investment and economic activity in the area.
Engineer Ashebir urged the contractor to give priority to completing the project within the agreed schedule and budget while meeting the required quality standards. He said successful implementation of the project would further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two organizations.
The CEO also invited Norinco International to expand its investment in Ethiopia’s energy sector by exploring opportunities to participate in major infrastructure developments through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
Mr. Du Xiaodong, Vice President of Norinco International Corporation, said the company has been involved in infrastructure development in Ethiopia for the past three decades.
Drawing on its extensive experience and technical capacity in the country, he reaffirmed Norinco’s commitment to completing the project on schedule, within the allocated budget, and in accordance with the required quality standards.
He said the agreement provides a strong foundation for further technical cooperation and the expansion of the partnership into other sectors.
Engineer Destaalem Hailu, Executive Vice President of Transmission Business at EEP, said Assosa and surrounding areas currently receive electricity primarily through the Gimbi–Mendi–Assosa transmission line.
He explained that the new substation and associated transmission infrastructure will help address frequent power interruptions along the existing transmission route and enable Assosa and neighboring areas to receive more reliable power directly from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The project will also contribute to strengthening Ethiopia’s national power grid by integrating GERD into a 400 kV ring transmission network, according to Engineer Destaalem.
The Assosa 2 400 kV substation has an allocated budget of more than ETB 121.876 million and is scheduled for completion within 24 months.
The broader Guba–Assosa 2 400 kV Power Transmission Project includes the construction of the Assosa 2 400 kV substation, expansion and construction works on the 400 kV transmission line at Guba, and works on the existing 132 kV transmission line in Assosa.
Upon completion, the project is expected to strengthen the transmission network in western Ethiopia, improve the reliability of electricity supply to the region, and enhance the integration of GERD-generated power into the national grid.
