Prof. Yacob Arsano Highlights Ethiopia's Energy Potential and Regional Diplomacy at Koysha Dam

Professor Yacob Arsano, a political science professor at Addis Ababa University and former Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiator, shared insights during a visit to the Koysha hydropower project site. He stated that Ethiopia is demonstrating immense capacity to manage its water resources effectively for both national use and neighboring countries. According to Prof. Arsano, the GERD has already increased Ethiopia's electric power capacity by 100 percent. The Koysha dam, which is the fourth project on the Omo/Gibe basin, will add another 1,800 megawatts to the national grid. He emphasized that these major dam projects serve as foundational learning and capacity-building milestones for future generations to continue developing the country's water wealth. Furthermore, exporting electricity to nations such as Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, and potentially Somalia in the future strengthens regional integration and elevates Ethiopia's diplomatic standing in the region.