Ethiopia to convene international conference on hydropower

Addis Ababa, March 30, 2011 (Addis Ababa, ENA) - An international conference that defines the role of hydropower in Africa’s sustainable development will be opened here on 31st March- 1st April.

According to ECA's Information and communication service, the conference aims to provide a forum to present and discuss real-world solutions to the challenges of supplying electrical power in Africa, with a focus on regional cooperation, comprising four themes.

The themes include African renewable energy potential and hydropower development in Ethiopia, Regional cooperation for water and energy (including trans-boundary issues),

Sustainability and good practice and Finance and investment as well.

The two-day, high-level conference, hosted by the UN Convention Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is organized by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo), with the support of SinoHydro as the main sponsor.

Around 200 international policy makers, regional actors, civil society representatives, industry leaders and members of the financial sector, invited by the Ethiopian Ministry of water and Energy, have been encouraged to actively participate in sharing regional perspectives, knowledge and expertise, and practical experience in developing sustainable hydropower projects.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy, in partnership with the African Union Commission and the UN Economic Commission for Africa will convene the conference.