Huawei to roll out 4G service in Ethiopia’s capital
Aaron Maash
Ethiopia’s state-run Ethio Telecom has picked Huawei Technologies, the world’s second largest telecom equipment maker, to roll out a high-speed 4G network across the capital Addis Ababa.
The introduction of the service is part of a $US1.6 billion deal signed in July and August between the Ethiopian firm, Huawei and ZTE, China’s second-biggest telecoms equipment maker, to expand mobile phone infrastructure throughout the Horn of Africa country.
“In terms of allocation, Huawei will be responsible for the expansion of 4G in Addis Ababa, including other mobile services – the 2G, 3G, IP and the like,” Abdurahim Ahmed, Ethio Telecom’s head of communications, told Reuters.
Abdurahim said the allocation plan was finalised on Wednesday.
“It is expected to benefit more than 400,000 subscribers. Within an eight-month period, the expansion project of Addis Ababa, including 4G, will be completed.”
The deal, signed by ZTE in August and Huawei a month before, will enable Ethiopia to double subscribers to more than 50 million by 2015 and expand 3G service throughout the country.
Both firms will split their work along 13 expansion areas.
The contract was awarded under a long-term loan package to be paid over a 13-year period with an interest rate of “less than 1 percent”, Abdurahim said.
Africa’s rapidly expanding telecoms industry has come to symbolise its economic growth, with subscribers across the continent totalling almost 650 million last year, up from just 25 million in 2001, according to the World Bank.
Ethio Telecom is the only mobile operator in the country of more than 80 million people, among the last remaining countries on the continent to maintain a state monopoly in telecoms.
The government has ruled out liberalising its telecoms sector, saying the 6 billion birr ($US321 million) it generates each year is being spent on railway projects. Ethiopia plans to build 5000 km of railway lines by 2020. (Reuters)
http://www.afr.com/p/technology/huawei_to_roll_out_service_in_ethiopia_oNO5YWiws0hpWX1for15UN
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Ethiopia gets 212 million Euros development grant from EU
The Ethiopian Government has secured a development grant of 212.4 million Euros from the EU to finance capital projects within the country’s Growth and Transformation Plan.
The Ethiopia Government disclosed this in a release on Wednesday in Addis Ababa.
According to the statement, the government signed a grant agreement with the EU on Monday to support the financing of projects including road construction, maternal health and drought resilience efforts.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the government is mid-way in its third generation of development strategy of the five year transformation plan.
The development includes connecting the country’s agricultural rich zones to local and international markets as a way of reducing poverty.
The government said that the grant would be utilised to upgrade transport infrastructure and promote regional integration.
It said that part of the grant would also be used in further cutting down the country’s maternal mortality rate, which had experienced tremendous progress by undertaking new projects towards that effort.
It said that 49 million Euros would go for expansion of road infrastructure; 50 million Euros would be allocated for projects of drought resilience; and 40.4 million Euros would be allotted to improving maternal health.
The Ethiopian government said it had reduced maternal mortality and child morbidity by about 60 per cent in the last 10 years.
http://www.punchng.com/news/ethiopia-gets-212-million-euros-development-grant-from-eu/
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Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) Approves 300 Megawatt Solar Project in partnership with two U.S. firms.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Nov. 28, 2013
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Nov. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – Global Trade Development Consulting and its Project Development Partner, Energy Ventures, both Maryland Companies, announced that they have been awarded the contract by the Ethiopian Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy and the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation to build, operate, and transfer three 100-MW solar farms in Eastern Ethiopia.
Solar PV Electricity generating systems are emerging renewable energy technologies and can be developed as viable option for electricity generation in future. This project also improve the provision of power supply in terms of quantity and quality through the enhancement of generation capacity mix of the Ethiopian national grid system and reduction of system losses and provision of alternative electricity green energy solution. The Integrated energy policy of Ethiopia envisages electricity generation installed capacity of more than 20,000 MW by 2020 and substantial contribution would be from renewable energy, resource.
Ethiopia is in the initial set of countries in President Obama’s “Power Africa” initiative. In addition to the needed power generation capacity, this 300 Megawatt Solar Project will contribute to economic development resulting in the creation of more than 2,000 construction jobs that would inject additional revenue to the Ethiopian economy. Ongoing plant operations would yield several hundred new jobs as well.
According to the Honorable Minister Alemayehu Tegenu, Minister of Water, irrigation and Energy for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, “this project represents a significant advance in our Ethiopian energy initiative and is now part of our comprehensive Energy Plan. Given Ethiopia’s large hydro-electric generation capacity and now wind and geothermal power generation coming on-line, large scale solar fits nicely into our energy portfolio and will provide significant power generation capacity much faster than the other renewable technologies. We welcome this project with open arms.”
“We spent months analyzing the potential for a large-scale solar project in Ethiopia. We found that Ethiopia has some of the highest solar irradiance factors in Africa,” said Dr. Yonnas Kefle CEO of GTDC. He added, “As with all our projects, we intend to maximize the amount of local resources in the performance of this project.”
Ms Tigist Mamo, COO of GTDC, emphasized that “the project performance which is so far accelerating in the right direction intends to engage local resources while working to ease the existing energy problem.” According to Ms. Tigist, Ethiopia needs the Solar PV Electricity generating systems to enhance its fast social and economic development.
“We are excited to be the Project Developer leading this important project for Ethiopia. The powers that this project will deliver have a dramatic effect on millions of Ethiopians’ quality of life,” said Mr. Lynn R. Hogg, Founder and CEO of Energy Ventures.
SOURCE Energy Ventures http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1613872
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Oil pipeline route could be economically viable for South Sudan
The construction of an alternative export oil pipeline route for South Sudan could ensure an economically and politically diverse environment where trade and exports can take place at reduced costs, says strategy and communications consultancy africapractice.
While Sudanese oil has been on the international market since the late 1990s, the secession of South Sudan from Sudan in July 2011 created a complex political game between the two countries, notes africapractice senior consultant Tom Savory.
In 2005, an historic peace agreement brought an end to Africa’s longest-running civil war – the 22-year conflict between citizens in the north and in the south of Sudan. International nongovernmental organisation Global Witness reports that tensions over the distribution of the country’s vast oil wealth had exacerbated the conflict, but oil was also a key component of its resolution.
The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agree- ment was underpinned by evenly dividing the revenues from southern oil between the north and the south. Rather than driving conflict, oil became a basis for peaceful cooperation.
With up to 75% of oil reserves from the old Sudan now falling in South Sudan, the newly established South Sudan’s capital, Juba, should have the economic upper hand between the two “heavily underdeveloped” countries.
However, Savory adds that the only economically viable route to market – through one of two pipelines to the Red Sea from Sudan – are controlled by Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. This means that, while South Sudan owns the resource, Sudan owns the means to export the resource.
“Unsurprisingly, as the two countries are the worst of neighbours and have strong incentives to increase revenue, relations over oil transit rapidly broke down between Sudan and South Sudan,” says Savory, adding that, while Sudan wanted to charge up to $36 a barrel, South Sudan wanted to pay $1 a barrel.
“In late 2011, when Khartoum started to siphon off a portion of oil to, in its view, cover unpaid bills, South Sudan promptly shut down oil production and the pipes and revenues promptly ran dry. “As a result, the brinkmanship between the two nations swiftly devastated both economies,” Savory highlights.
With neither Sudan nor South Sudan featuring high on any development or gross domestic product index, africapractice states that the countries’ economic rents from oil production are vital to keeping their governments and economies afloat.
South Sudan relies on oil revenue to generate 98% of its foreign exchange earnings and it accounts for more than 98% of the country’s budget, whereas Sudan has a slightly more diversified economy, which is still heavily reliant on oil.
“The effect of the hiatus in oil flow was devastating to Sudan and South Sudan. Inflation was the most direct effect, particularly with food prices skyrocketing – government spending was also reduced sharply. “For countries that are struggling to meet the basic needs of their citizens, this has had significant consequences on South Sudan’s socioeconomic development,” says Savory.
He mentions that South Sudan has suggested two routes for South Sudanese oil. The first heads east from the south of the country towards a potential new Indian Ocean port in Lamu, in northern Kenya, while the second heads east from the north of the country through Ethiopia and Djibouti, to the Gulf of Aden.
The Kenya route will ensure that the pipeline traverses a relatively flat and logis- tically accessible path, says Savory.
“Regionally, Kenya has a strong and diversified economy and would be grateful for transit revenue, but will not rely on it. Also, the opportunity to develop Lamu and to rebalance the country’s maritime options, away from the clogged Mombasa port, would be highly desirable,” he men- tions. A pipeline that traverses this route is likely to be connected to the Ugandan oil fields.
Ethiopia is a significantly more trouble- some logistical prospect, notes Savory. Not only is the route longer but it also passes mountains and wetlands, neither of which are favourable for pipeline construction, though neither render the route impossible.
Savory explains that, by crossing Ethiopia and Djibouti, the route will also increase costs as revenue will need to be shared between more countries. Getting Djibouti on board, therefore, presents a “less interesting proposition for Ethiopia than what it does for Kenya” and less income for South Sudan.
However, the route does offer an enhanced economic and political partnership with a regional power that not only consists of sub-Saharan Africa’s most potent armed forces but also borders Sudan. “For South Sudanese strategists, a tight economic partnership with Ethiopia will help tip the balance of force in its favour, compared with Sudan, which wields a strong military force but few regional allies,” he explains.
On the other hand, Savory highlights that South Sudan has regularly voiced an interest in joining the East African Com- munity (EAC), and strengthening its economic ties with Kenya will help this process and build Nairobi’s interest in the country.
He further states that, if South Sudan manages to join the EAC, it will represent a significant economic and diplomatic boon for the nation – regional integration will eventually encourage East African and global trade with the nation, improving access to consumer goods, reducing prices and creating economic opportunities. EAC membership will cement South Sudan’s legitimacy and prominence in the international community.
Moreover, Savory points out that, though the possibility of two routes out of South Sudan is technologically feasible, the project is unlikely to be as successful from an economic point of view. “Economies of scale are vital to the oil sector and any company that develops a pipeline out of South Sudan will aim to transport as much oil as possible. Splitting the oil transport along two routes does not favour anyone, with significantly less revenue to share, which may result in neither of the projects being viable,” he points out.
Meanwhile, as much as the desire for a new oil outlet is real and immediate, South Sudan’s capital, Juba, appears to be focusing more on short-term goals. The 15-month hiatus in oil revenue – the result of the oilfield shutdown – took its toll on the country, but South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit is monitoring the ongoing negotiations about the disputed Abyei region and facing several political challenges.
Africapractice notes that Kiir undertook a major Cabinet reshuffle in July, an appa- rent response to an in-house leadership challenge. A 2015 election is an important milestone in the country’s independence and Kiir’s party is “ill-prepared” to run a credible poll, which is essential to sustaining positive international relations, particularly with donor bodies.
Talks on the route out of South Sudan through Kenya to Lamu are ongoing. The announcement on this route is likely to be made by the end of 2014.
Transport Minister, Workneh Gebeyehu, said at a discussion held at Ghion hotel on Tuesday that the ITS society would contribute a lot toward improving and modernizing the transportation systems of Ethiopia.
It is also valuable for monitoring and managing transportation system effectively, reducing traffic accidents and solving the transportation problems sustainably, he said.
A specialist in the area of ITS and advisor to the minister, Abiyu Berlie, on his part said the society would have a significant contribution to attain the growth and transformation plan (GTP).
Abiyu finally called on stakeholders to do their part for the success of the society’s vision to reduce accidents, improve the transportation system and keep Ethiopia moving forward.
ITS Ethiopia promotes and advance research and development in ITS, and encourage the implementation of cost effective and applicable ITS technologies, which will enhance modernization of the transportation system of Ethiopia to improve safety efficiency, reliability, accessibility and sustainability of the inter-model transportation networks in the country.
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Addis ponders Transit Oriented Development at light rail stations
The Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) is deliberating on a concept plan for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) around the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit (AA-LRT).
The TOD concept is an emerging trend in urban development that seeks to create compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented communities located around new or existing public transit stations.
ERC’s planned proposal has identified ten major stations, out of a total of 39 stations planned to be built under the first phase of the 34 km light rail project. The stations are located at Ayat, Megenagna, Legehar, Lideta and Tor Hailoch in east-west line and Menelik Square, Merkato, Gotera, Dama Hotel and Kality in north-south line.
According to Getachew Betru (Eng.), CEO of ERC, the proposed plan will ensure the sustainability and longevity of the light rail transit, enabling the corporation to get quicker return on investment by enhancing operational revenue earning potential.
“Revenue from ticket sales alone is not sufficient to cover the investment cost of light rail projects,” Getachew said during a workshop organized by the corporation under the theme ‘Transit Oriented Development for Addis Ababa LRT’.
According to a study conducted by the corporation, average annual revenue from ticket sales could only cover 53% (about 33 mln USD) of the operational cost of the light rail project. A further five million USD (8%) is expected to be generated from miscellaneous revenues such as advertisements and carbon credit.
The corporation hopes to offset the remaining operational costs with transit oriented development and capitalize on increased property value due transit lines. According to ERC’s study, ridership at an individual station at a TOD could increase by as much as 40%.
A typical TOD incorporates a residential and commercial area with progressively lower-density spreading outwards. The standard radius ranges between 400 to 800 meters, a walking distance of roughly five to ten minutes.
The corporation is working with international consultants with experience in transit oriented development with several of them showing interest to participate in joint development.
P3 Africa/International is one such company which has been working with ERC since April 2012. Assefa G. Michael, its representative, expressed the company’s readiness to design, develop, operate and fund the project.
The one-day workshop, held at Ghion Hotel, was organized to deliberate on various business models of implementing the TOD.
“We are at the early stages of developing the concept. We are still assessing the options and are open to new ideas,” Getachew said in closing the workshop which was attended by architects, representatives of international companies and government officials.
The Addis Light Project, whose construction began in January 2012, is currently over 47 percent complete and is expected to go operational in January 2015.
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‘India can partner Ethiopia in space technology’
With Ethiopia launching a new space programme last month, India can have a promising partnership with Africa in this frontier technology, India’s outgoing ambassador here has said.
“An Indian rocket may carry an Ethiopian satellite into space; that is possible,” outgoing envoy Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi said at his farewell reception here organized by the Indian Business Forum (IBF) in Ethiopia.
“India’s space launches are much cheaper (than in the West); hence launching micro satellites for Ethiopia is something that I think the two countries should work closely together for,” he added.
After South Africa and Nigeria, Ethiopia is becoming a hub of Africa’s aspirations in space with the East African nation finalising the installation of two huge deep-space observatory telescopes to promote space research in the region, a prelude to its developing a space mission by launching its own satellites.
Indian technology has enabled the successful launching of satellites that now provide the country communication facilities and information on a range of subjects, including mineral deposits and weather trends.
“I will discuss this new partnership opportunity with my successor,” Bisnoi said. On completing his four-year term, Bishnoi is moving to New York as deputy head of India’s permanent mission at the UN. He will be succeeded by Sanjay Verma, currently India’s consul general in Dubai.
He said Indian technological companies should invest in Ethiopia in the opportunities that are opening up. “The technologies that India brings are affordable, adoptable and suitable for household uses and others depending on the circumstances”, the ambassador said.
“There is a lot of things that Indian industry has to offer.” During his tenure, the ambassador had encouraged Indian investment to Ethiopia and several Indian projects, especially in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, have been set up. “As a patron of IBF, he (Bishnoi) constantly guided us to achieve our main objectives of IBF,” Mayur IBF president Suryakant Kothari told IANS. According to Kothari, the other major contribution of the Indian ambassador was to create a platform for dialogue between Indian and Ethiopian government officials, which is also an objective of the IBF. “Creating a dialogue between government officials is very important for investment and he enabled this platform where Indian investors frankly and candidly engage with Indian and Ethiopian government officials, and a lot of their challenges and problems were resolved,” Kothari said. One outcome of this dialogue is that India is the first country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority (ERCA) that has been successfully implemented by both sides. The first visit of Indian leaders like Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Mnister Manmohan Singh, as well as of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to India when he was foreign minister happened during Bishnoi’s tenure. (IANS)
http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php/explore/11427-india-can-partner-ethiopia-in-space-technology-
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Elilly, Belle Vue Hotels Inaugurated in Ethiopia
Elilly International Hotel, a new five-star hotel was inaugurated on Saturday, November 23, 2013, Capital reported. The 154 rooms hotel includes a penthouse and two presidential suites.
Elilly International Hotel also have a swimming pool, spa, gymnasium, night club and restaurants.
The hotel costed more than 700 million birr, according to Capital.
Another hotel which joined the Ethiopian hospitality business in the past week is Belle Vue International Hotel in Addis Ababa.
Belle Vue, owned by the athlet Meriem Jemal, two-time world champion and Olympic champion, and her husband Yewondwossen Disso, was inagurated on Saturday November 16.
Construction on the 200 million birr hotel was launched six years ago.
Constructed on 855 square meters lot located around Megenagna, Belle Vue has 35 rooms.The hotel also features a restaurant, an exclusive wine bar, spa facility and a conference room that accommodates 150 people.
http://www.2merkato.com/news/alerts/2712-elilly-belle-vue-hotels-inaugurated-in-Ethiopia
Ethiopia steps up education budget to over 25b Birr
Ethiopia has stepped up its budget for education to over 25 billion Birr with a view to satisfy the nation’s growing demand for trained workforce, Ministry of Education has said.
A consultative forum aimed at lobbying for the active involvement and support of partners and the public was held in Adama town on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister, Shiferaw Shigute the government has stepped up its budget for education to 25.4 billion Birr with a view to satisfy the nation’s growing demand for trained workforce.
The Minister highlighted the key role of partners and the public to address drawbacks in the sector as well as ensure both access and quality.
The forum reached agreement to work harder to augment student intake capacity, cut the rate of school dropouts and repetitions, ensure a 1:1 student-book ratio, furnish school libraries and laboratories, and build information technology capacity.
At the end of the consultation, participants expressed readiness to play their part.
And finally, one for the haters, because they need to be heard too! 
http://www.stockhouse.com/companies/bullboard/t.aaa/allana-potash-corp/2?postid=21951662
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