Page 14 - AfrElec Week 38 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

and its procedural rules, and to agree on the
periodicity of holding meetings.
After which Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan
agreed to choose two consulting offices, one
Dutch and the other French, to conduct the
required studies on the dam.
In March 2015, President Sisi, his Sudanese
counterpart Omar al-Bashir, and Ethiopia’s
former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn
signed in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum
the “Declaration of Principles” for the
Renaissance Dam.

INVESTMENT

Nigerian minister seeks UN
financial support for power

power tender could prolong an energy crisis GERD negotiations cannot sector
that has cost Africa’s largest industrial nation
billions of dollars in lost revenue due to continue indefinitely Nigerian Minister of State, Power, Mr. Goddy
regular electricity blackouts. Jedy-Agba has called on the United Nations
The head of the Defense and National (UN) to make additional financial support
Security Committee in the Egyptian Senate, available to intervene in the power sector.
Lieutenant-General Osama al-Gendy, quoted The minister made the call recently when
PRICES Sisi as saying that GERD negotiations cannot he paid the UN Deputy Secretary General,
continue on indefinitely. Mrs. Amina Mohammed, a courtesy visit in
Kenya’s electricity bills rise Renaissance Dam that Addis Ababa is New York, United States.
“Negotiating with Ethiopia over the
Jedy-Agba had traveled last week with
to 3-year high building on the banks of the Nile can not a delegation comprising the Managing
Director /Chief Executive Officer of Rural
continue indefinitely. As the Egyptian state
Kenyans will get fewer electricity units understands the requirements of Ethiopian Electrification Agency, (REA), Mr. Ahmad
compared to last month, following the development, that development should not be Salihijo Ahmad, as part of Nigeria’s delegation
revision of prices by the Energy and at the expense of others,” he said. to the ongoing 76st sessions of the United
Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Both Cairo and Khartoum see the Nations General Assembly.
According to EPRA, electricity bills have Renaissance Dam as a danger to their share of While commending Mohammed for
reached a 38-month high, on account of the Nile water, he added. the role she has played in several UN
increase in fuel surcharge levied on electricity Gendy pointed out that in September interventions in the country, the minister,
tariffs. 2011, the Egyptian and Ethiopian authorities however, appealed for the organisation’s
The Authority said the fuel cost charge has agreed to form an international committee to continued support to Nigeria.
risen from KSh 3.77 in August, last month, study the impact of building the Renaissance The minister reiterated that one of the
to KSh 3.88 this month, the highest since July Dam, and in May 2012 the committee began major challenges facing the country’s power
2018. its work by examining Ethiopian engineering sector was funding, thus appealing to the UN
As such, Kenyans who pay KSh 1,000 for studies, and the potential impact of the dam to vote more funds for Nigeria to develop the
electricity tokens will now receive 39.82 units, on Egypt and Sudan. sector.
down from 40.13 they were getting previously, This expert committee which comprised “Once again I want to congratulate and
according to a report by Business Daily. international experts then issued a report commend you for all you’ve been doing since
The increase in cost of electricity will most recommending conducting studies evaluating your appointment especially for your dear
likely unleash pricing pressure across the the effects of the dam on the two downstream country, Nigeria. You have really made the
economy as producers of services and goods countries. country proud and we’re happy we’ve a good
factor in the higher cost of power. Negotiations were halted after Egypt ambassador like you out here.”
The hike in electricity prices come barely a refused to form a technical committee without
week after the Authority increased the pump foreign experts.
prices to the highest levels ever witnessed in In June 2014, the authorities in Egypt
the country. and Ethiopia agreed to resume negotiations
again, and the first meeting of a tripartite
committee comprising Egypt, Ethiopia and
Sudan was held to discuss the formulation of
HYDRO terms of reference for the technical committee

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 38 23•September•2022