Eritrea’s Promising Prospects of Energy Supply
There has been a huge gap between the country’s demand and supply of energy. But, the Ministry of Energy and Mines has been working to steadily address the challenges and thereby to fill the gab. Therefore, besides the growing distribution of electricity, the ministry has been looking mechanisms for preventing any sort of wastage. It has been repeatedly heard about the advances that have been made in securing electricity supply. But, what are the future prospects.
It is in fact needless to mention the already accomplished tasks in the distribution of electricity supply. But, let’s see what the new plans on this subject matter are. According to Mr. Tesfay Zekarias, Director General of Energy Department in the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the distribution of electricity lines is being expanded to different areas that have never been beneficiaries. Hence, a number of villages and semi-urban centers would gain access to electricity supply with the new installation of electric lines that has been expanded to give a wide coverage, for instance, from Massawa to Foro, from Dekemhare to Adi-keyih, and from Ghinda’e to She’eb. And cities like Barentu, Teseney and Asseb which are not part of the integrated national electricity network have been securing demands of energy of the villages in their environs. So far, around 260 cities and semi-urban centers and around 300 villages have become beneficiaries.
Among the major plans that are charted out includes the interconnecting of larger areas of the Gash-Barka region through grids. Minimizing wastage of power is the focal point of securing energy supply. In this respect, the Ministry has been working to tackle such a challenge through making minimal changes and introducing new equipment that are very instrumental in preventing wastages during the process of transmission from one area to another. Mr. Tesfay said that the mechanisms of wastage prevention introduced in Massawa has born fruitful outcome. This can further be realized, Mr. Tesfay said “Through the introduction of economical lamps.”
The storage and distribution capacity of fuel oil has by far been growing. For instance, Mr. Tesfay said that gas distribution tanker that is worth of 4 million euro was earlier installed and likewise a new tanker that is also worth 10 million euro is under construction. Endeavors exerted to renovate and restore the refinery into its working conditions in a short time frame should not be viewed lightly.
According to Mr. Tesafy achievements registered in enhancing the capacity of electricity and fuel stations as well as sources of renewable energy is a great leap forward. Even though very demanding, there are plans to satisfy energy supply demand through the expansion of electrification programs, introducing new generators and networking different areas that have not yet been covered through grids. Larger areas of the Gash-Barka region which are known for their economic potentials are point of focus.
As regards gas distribution, huge amount of gas supply has been shipped and necessary infrastructures have been finalized. There are also plans to reach to yet unreached areas through mobile gas distribution stations. As Eritrea is endowed with huge potentials of wind and solar energy supply, the country’s prospects is very promising. What such potential needs is just due investment and thereby to gain benefits out of the huge potentials.