Ethiopia Advances Clean Energy With Contract Award For 150 MW Weranso Solar Plant

Ethiopia has moved forward in its renewable energy plans by awarding a contract to two international firms for development work on the Weranso Solar Plant. The project is part of the country’s long-term goal to increase clean energy generation and reduce its dependence on hydropower and fossil fuels. The contract has been given to Thabo Consulting Engineering from South Africa and Sun Business Development from Portugal. These two companies will provide consultancy services for the 150 MW Weranso Solar PV project, which will be developed in the Afar region in north-eastern Ethiopia.

The value of the consultancy agreement is around USD 706,790. Under this agreement, the companies will carry out several important early-stage tasks. They will prepare the feasibility study to assess the technical and financial requirements of the project. They will also work on the environmental and social impact assessment to ensure the project meets international standards. Another key responsibility is preparing a resettlement action plan for any affected communities. In addition, they will compile the bidding documents required for the next phase of the project, which will involve selecting the construction contractor.

The Weranso Solar Plant is owned by Ethiopian Electric Power and is supported by the African Development Bank. The plant is expected to spread over about 250 hectares of land. It will be connected to a nearby substation near Mile town using a new high-voltage transmission line. The project is expected to help Ethiopia expand its renewable energy footprint and support the country’s growing electricity demand.

Ethiopia has been actively inviting international companies to participate in renewable energy projects through competitive bidding. This approach helps attract foreign investment and technical expertise. The Weranso project fits into the government’s larger plan to significantly increase clean energy capacity by 2030, with a focus on solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal resources. The awarding of this consultancy contract marks a key step toward advancing the project to the construction stage once all studies and documents are complete.