Ethiopia is quietly charging up its role as East Africa’s power bank.
In the just-ended 2024/25 fiscal year, Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) raked in a solid $118.1 million by exporting electricity to its neighbors — Kenya, Djibouti, Sudan, and for the first time, Tanzania. The numbers reveal a bigger story: Ethiopia isn’t just keeping the lights on at home, it’s now lighting up the region.
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Here’s the breakdown:
- Kenya: $86.3M (beat the forecast of $85.2M)
- Djibouti: $30.9M
- Sudan: $900K
- Tanzania: Trial run – no big bucks yet, but the spark’s there.
The Big Picture
Ethiopia had initially aimed to generate 25,000 GWh this year. Instead? It overshot and pumped out 29,000+ GWh — 7% of which flowed across borders. That 7% made up 20% of EEP’s total revenue, showing that electricity is fast becoming a high-voltage export commodity for the country.
Tanzania: A New Plug-in Point
EEP’s trial delivery to Tanzania signals Ethiopia’s growing influence in the East African power ecosystem. It’s part of a larger strategy to monetize its hydropower potential, reduce regional energy gaps, and position itself as the clean energy hub of Africa.
With climate-friendly power, surplus generation capacity, and growing transmission links, Ethiopia is flipping the switch on what energy diplomacy can look like on the continent.
