Energy

The energy resource base of the region can be classified as modern and traditional energy. Modern energy includes hydropower, geothermal, diesel electricity, hydrocarbon resources, solar energy and wind energy. The traditional energy includes biomass (woody biomass, agri-residues and biogas) and animate energy. Although the Region does not have significant potential for hydropower generation, the region gets 95% of the electricity from the national grid or Inter Connected System (ICS).In addition to the power supplied from hydropower, the Afar region uses diesel electricity. The Afar region is endowed with huge amount of solar energy. Therefore, it is important to consider its utilization in the development programme of the Region. The other energy potential is wind. The Region has a huge amount of geothermal resources which have been well explored and waiting exploitation. The other energy potential in the region is agri-residues, i.e., crops residues and cattle dung etc. It can be a basis for establishing fuel briquette and biogas plants in the rural and urban area of the Region. In general, except in the area of hydropower, the Region has potential of energy resources such as geo thermal, solar, wind and biomass. These resources can be used in the Region if sound energy policies and strategies are formulated. Considering the resources available in the region, projects that could be implemented by the private and public sector are identified. These include solar panel (PV system), solar water heater, and pump and cooker, geothermal plant etc