29 June 2010: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved an Interational Development Assistance (IDA) credit of US$180 million equivalent for a project aimed at establishing a sustainable programme for expanding access to electricity and improving the quality and adequacy of the electricity supply in Ethiopia.

The project will also reduce environmental degradation, improve energy end-use efficiency and lower the barrier to the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies, in particular solar photovoltaic and micro-hydro power generation in rural areas. In addition, it will provide technical support to key sector agencies for institutional development and capacity building. [Project Website] [World Bank Press Release]