Ethiopia is thinking about selling electricity to Yemen, an Ethiopian energy official told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

“The idea is not yet supported by study. The plan requires to conduct a lot of studies,” Misikir Negash, head of public relations for the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, said.

He said that preparations were underway for further studies on the proposal.

“A study on technical matters will soon be launched,” said Negash.

If the idea is approved by Ethiopian authorities, a cable will be laid to carry electricity to Yemen via the Red Sea.

A delegation of Yemeni officials visited Ethiopia last month to discuss the issue, an official at Yemen’s embassy in Addis Ababa told AA.

“Yemen is planning to buy 100 megawatts of electric power via Djibouti,” the embassy official said. “However, the case is [still] being digested.”

Ethiopia currently sells 100 megawatts of electric power to Sudan, 35 megawatts to Djibouti and 400 megawatts to Kenya.

Following completion of a massive hydroelectric dam that Addis Ababa is currently building on the Nile River, Ethiopia will be able to export surplus electricity to purchasers in North Africa and the Middle East.

The country reportedly has the potential to generate between 15,000 and 30,000 megawatts of electric power.

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Source: YemenOnline, Feb 05,2014, titled “Ethiopia mulls electricity export to Yemen“.