Ethiopia Touts Clean Energy as Key Driver for Africa's Industrial Transformation
President Taye Atske-Selassie of Ethiopia highlighted clean energy as a key driver for industrial transformation and sustainable economic growth in Africa at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Dubai. He emphasized that African countries must accelerate investment in solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower to meet the growing demands of industrialization.
Taye pointed out that Ethiopia has an estimated 60,000 megawatts of renewable energy potential and aims to reach a generation capacity of 13,000 megawatts by 2030. The country is also targeting electricity exports across the East African Power Pool and beyond.
The president stressed that clean energy is not just a national asset but a foundation for rapid economic growth. He noted that Ethiopia's relatively affordable and reliable electricity supply has attracted investment in advanced digital infrastructure, with nearly 1,000 megawatts allocated to data-center and mining enterprises.
Taye identified agriculture, critical minerals, infrastructure, and human capital as the other four strategic investment priorities for Africa. He highlighted Ethiopia's progress in transforming from a net wheat importer into Africa's largest wheat producer through irrigation expansion, improved agricultural technologies, and adoption of heat-resistant seed varieties.