The news sugar factories being built in various parts of the country could generate over 200MW from sugarcane by-product once they enter into production.
The Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity told Fana Broadcasting Corporate that the factories could produce 200-300MW from bagasse, a fibrous residue of sugarcane which remains after crushing operation.
After meeting their energy demand by themselves, the factories will supply and sell the surplus power to the national grid, according to Wendimu Tekle, State Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity.
Tadesse Wabela, Operation Deputy Manager at Kesem sugar factory said Kessem will generate 26 MW in addition to sugar production and feed 16MW to the national grid.
Tendaho sugar factories on its part could generate 80MW once it goes fully operational.
Omo Kuraz–I will feed 29MW to the national grid by generating a total of 46MW, said Lieutenant Colonel Yohannes Tikisa, manager at the sugar project.
Wondimu said power distribution stations will be built at all sugar factories. Construction has already started at some factories.
In addition to becoming self-sufficient and saving foreign currency expenditure, the factories will play a great role for the success of Ethiopia’s green growth strategy, the State Minister said.
Tendaho, Kesem, Wolkait, Fincha, Omo Kuraz, Beles and Arjo Dedesa are among the factories that are expected to generate power from bagasse.
[www.fanabc.com]