Ethiopia’s Somali Region has inaugurated a 200 million birr ($1.58 million) solar power project in Dig district, marking a significant advance in expanding renewable energy access to remote areas. The new facility, with a generation capacity of 350 kilowatts, is designed to provide uninterrupted, 24-hour electricity to the district, which previously lacked a reliable power supply.
The project was launched in the presence of senior federal and regional officials, including Sultan Wali, State Minister for Water and Energy, and Ahmed Shugri, Somali Regional State Minister for Urban Development and Construction. Speaking at the ceremony, State Minister Wali highlighted the project as a key milestone in efforts to integrate rural and urban economies through improved infrastructure, while regional officials emphasized prioritizing solar energy for communities located far from the national hydroelectric grid. Minister Shugri noted that Dig is among 10 towns selected under the region’s renewable energy expansion program to ensure stable and sustainable electricity access.
The initiative was implemented through collaboration between the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy, the Somali Region’s Bureau of Urban Development and Construction, and the Ethiopian Electric Utility. This project aligns with Ethiopia’s broader strategy to diversify its energy mix, traditionally dominated by hydropower, by investing in solar and wind projects with the goal of achieving universal electrification by 2030.
