Ethiopia’s renewable energy expansion and cross-border electricity links are accelerating economic integration in East Africa, an European Union official said on September 20, 2026.
Adrián Cano Guerrero of the EU Delegation to Ethiopia said the bloc was supporting electricity generation, transmission and distribution projects within Ethiopia and across its borders.
More than 95 per cent of Ethiopia’s electricity is generated from renewable sources, positioning the country as a major clean-energy hub in the region. Guerrero said collaboration with the Eastern Africa Power Pool and institutions including the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Horn of Africa Initiative would help improve regional connectivity.
Ethiopia already exports electricity to neighbouring countries, including Kenya and Sudan. Guerrero said the trade generates revenue for Ethiopia while strengthening economic cooperation among countries in the region.
He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to working with Ethiopia and regional institutions to expand energy access, trade, transport and infrastructure in support of sustainable economic growth.