GIZ Energy Coordination Office - ECO

Ethiopia is a vast country endowed with abundant renewable energy resources. However, it is among the lowest energy consuming countries in the world. Less than one percent of the 66 million people living in rural areas and only 14 percent of its 82 million inhabitants have access to electricity. This is seriously limiting the countrys growth and development. Even for those with access to electricity, regular power cuts continue to be serious problems. The situation is aggravated by a rapidly increasing population, dramatic urbanization and the emergence of energy-intensive heavy industries. Given the absence of other affordable power sources, people still rely on traditional forms of energy, such as firewood, which lead to increased deforestation, soil erosion as well as health problems. To combat this situation, Ethiopia must develop and utilise appropriate renewable and environmentally friendly energy resources. This demands increased coordination of key stakeholders and a receptive public which can see the benefits of modern energy services. The Ministry of Water and Energy has assigned experts for fine-tuning and joint implementation activities based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed with GIZ. Operational plans are currently being developed both with the Ministry as well as the Ministrys implementation offices.

ECO Partners
In order to ensure a coherent and effective strategy for improved energy supplies, ECO works with national and international partners in Ethiopia. Over the last decade, Ethio-German development cooperation in energy provision has led to strong and efficient partnerships. Main partners include: Ministry of Water and Energy (direct partner) Ethiopian Energy Agency Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Health Environmental Protection Authority World Bank European Union UN Organisations Other Governmental and Non-Governmental organisations, Civil Society bodies, educational institutions and the private sector.

ECO services
For the past twelve years, GIZ has worked with the Ethiopian government and other partners to introduce energy-saving methods and products to the local market while strengthening the countrys ability to provide sustainable energy services. The new Energy Coordination Office (ECO) is supporting sustainable energy services in Ethiopia through its three technical departments: Bio-Energy Department promoting improved energysaving cooking technologies which reduce firewood consumption; Electrification Department supporting rural electrification through small-scale solar systems and hydropower plants; Policy, Private Sector Development & Services Department advising the Ethiopian government on policies, strategies, energy laws and programmes. It also supports the enhancement of private sector involvement in renewable energy.

Energizing Development
ECO is jointly funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Energising Development initiative, or EnDev, works in over 20 countries worldwide and recognises that access to energy is critical for sustainable development, poverty reduction and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Local Economic Development

ECO is supporting the improvement of technical support and framework conditions for rural communities, thereby enabling them to increase their local energy supply. The availability of advisory and training assistance is improved. The goal is to establish and manage appropriate forms of organizations to guarantee the sustainable supply of energy as basis for local economic development.

GIZ Energy Coordination Office - ECO

ECO also supports the development of assistance to the communities in the productive use of energy, supporting local businesses and the creation of new ones that contribute to off farm employment and increased incomes in rural areas.

Electricity from Hydropower

The villages of Gobecho, Hagarasodicha and Ererte in the

Private Energy Sector Development

ECO is supporting the development of conducive conditions and services for the creation and the growth of the private renewable energy sector, involving associations, private enterprises, national and even international investors in the Program. The aim is to boost the energy sector. The renewable energy market in Ethiopia offers major opportunities for entrepreneurs to successfully set up and manage sustainable businesses. ECO supports these strategies and private initiatives offering capacity development and promoting activities to all concerned stakeholders, to private renewable energy enterprises and their associations.

Sidama zone are now enjoying the benefits of electricity. Micro hydropower plants were constructed on nearby rivers through ECOs hydropower work, transforming waterfalls into electricity. Thereby, a basic need for improved social services has been met and opportunities for ample off-farm employment have been created.

Energy Efficiency
ECO introduced and has been promoting the Mirt injera baking stove in Ethiopia. Supported by ECO, the Mirt stove was designed by the former Ethiopian Alternative Energy Development and Promotion Center of the Ministry of Water and Energy. It reduces fuel consumption for baking Ethiopias national dish by about 50 percent in comparison to traditional methods. To date, more than 600 small-scale producers have been established in 311 districts in seven regions of the country. The commercial approach adopted by ECO together with a decentralized production process and the involvement of the private sector to sell the stoves, resulted in the sale of over 430,000 Mirt stoves by end-January 2011. Yet greater efficiency is always the goal: as new cooking technologies are discovered, ECO in collaboration with Ministry of Water and Energy is preparing to launch a different version of rocket stoves, which reduce firewood consumption by up to 70 percent for institutional use and up to 50 percent for households. Developed in the USA, rocket stoves are gaining popularity throughout the world thanks to their energy efficiency. Now, ECO and the Ministry have adapted this technology to suit Ethiopias needs.

Solar Energy for Rural Social Infrastructures

The Energy Coordination Office has already installed photovoltaic (PV) solar systems in around 100 off-grid and remote public health centres throughout Ethiopia. These PV solar systems are now providing energy for refrigerating vaccines, inpatient and outpatient examinations as well as powering microscopes and other medical equipment. Furthermore, preparations have been completed for additional 80 community centers to be equipped with Solar PV for their daily electricity needs. The solar systems are installed by technicians from private companies who received training at the new training centre for solar technology established by ECO and the Selam Vocational Training Centre.

Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Energy Coordination Office Bole Sub-City, Kebele 12/13, Gurd Shola P.O. Box 12994, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia T F E I +251 11 6451 020 +251 11 6463 653 eco.ethiopia@giz.de www.giz.de

Project: Client: Timeframe: Volume:

Energy Coordination Office Ministry of Water and Energy 2010 Mid-2012 6,000,000

Photos:

E.Tesfa G.Selassie, Konjit Negussu, Michael Tsegaye, Nahom Tesfaye, Tobias Vorkapic