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Power shortages in Ethiopia
15/02/2004 14:25 - (SA)
Addis Ababa - The Ethiopian news agency says 11 towns in south-west Ethiopia are to face power supply shortages during the coming three months.
Quoting sources, the news agency said due to a decrease in the volume of water in the south-western River Sor, major towns like Dembi Dolo, Gambella, Gore and Mettu, all situated south-west of the capital, will be affected.
The supply of power on a shift basis to the four major towns and seven other smaller ones will continue as long as there is a decrease in the volume of the river's water, due to a dry spell.
The Sor power station in the outskirts of Dembi Dolo, which previously generated five megawatts, is now generating only 1.5 megawatts.
Ethiopia, although considered a water tower of the region, has been forced every summer since 1992 to ration power due to reductions in water volumes in dams and rivers all over the country, a situation blamed on the mismanagement of the water resources.
It is not clear whether this power shortage will be confined only to the towns indicated.
The news agency says the Ethiopian Electricity Corporation has launched efforts to connect Dembi Dolo's industrial suburb of Bedele with a 132-kilovolts electric line to supply power to the affected areas.
- SAPA
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