Geothermal energy and water resources in Ethiopia

Countries located in the East African Rift System (EARS) have significant geothermal resources as a result of the specific geology of the region. This geothermal potential has long been recognised through reconnaissance surveys started as early as the 1950s although, as of today, Kenya is the only significant producer of geothermal energy within the EARS (ranked 9th in the world with an installed capacity of 676 MW representing about 46% of total produced electricity). Most of the EARS countries rely on hydropower and/or fossil fuels and now turn towards the development of their geothermal resources as a result of their vulnerability to climate change (frequent droughts) or oil and gas supply and prices