Türkiye and Ethiopia sign energy MoU to develop joint power, renewables projects

Türkiye and Ethiopia formalized their commitment to energy cooperation Tuesday with a memorandum of understanding signed by Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Ethiopian Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's official visit to Addis Ababa. The agreement establishes a framework for developing joint projects across the electricity and renewable energy sectors.

Comprehensive Energy Cooperation Framework

Under the MoU, both nations will collaborate on electricity generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure, renewable energy investments, and energy efficiency initiatives. The partnership extends to manufacturing and installing hydroelectric power plant equipment and electric turbines, supporting both public and private sector investments. Bayraktar emphasized the goal of "strengthening the sharing of experience and producing concrete projects in a wide range of areas, from electricity generation to grid infrastructure, from renewable energy investments to hydroelectric infrastructure projects."

Expanding Partnership Beyond Energy

Bayraktar noted the agreement represents part of a "comprehensive roadmap to deepen our existing cooperation and concretize new areas of partnership across a wide range of sectors, from energy and mining to education, health, transportation, agriculture, environment, urban planning, culture, and tourism." The energy accord builds on Türkiye's position as Ethiopia's second-largest investor, with Turkish companies already active in manufacturing and construction. The partnership reflects Ankara's strategic engagement in the Horn of Africa, leveraging technical expertise to support Ethiopia's infrastructure development while creating opportunities for Turkish industry.