Ethiopia generated $76.62 million in revenue from electricity exports during the first quarter of the 2026/27 fiscal year, exceeding its target by 26 percent, as the country continued to expand power generation and strengthen its position as a regional electricity supplier.
According to Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), the utility had planned to earn $60.9 million from electricity exports during the three-month period but secured $76.62 million, achieving 126 percent of its target.
The utility also generated Birr 31 billion from domestic and international electricity sales and related services, including fibre-optic cable leasing. The revenue exceeded its quarterly target of Birr 27.28 billion by 14 percent and represented an increase of Birr 4 billion compared with the same period last year.
Domestic sales accounted for 78.98 percent of total revenue, while exports contributed the remaining 21.02 percent, highlighting the growing importance of electricity exports to the country’s foreign currency earnings.
During the quarter, EEP generated more than 7,567 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity against a planned production target of 7,975 GWh, achieving 95.1 percent of its target.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was the largest contributor to national electricity generation, producing 3,789.73 GWh, equivalent to approximately 50 percent of total output. The Gibe III hydropower plant followed with 1,021 GWh, accounting for 13.5 percent of production.
Hydropower remained the dominant source of electricity, contributing 7,388.17 GWh, or 98 percent of total generation. Wind power accounted for the remaining 179.49 GWh, representing approximately 2 percent.
Of the electricity generated during the reporting period, 91.04 percent was supplied to the domestic market, while the remainder was exported to neighbouring countries.
On the domestic revenue side, the Ethiopian Electric Utility accounted for 48 percent, while technology companies contributed 26.7 percent. Large industries represented 3.6 percent, and the Ethio-Djibouti Railway accounted for 0.38 percent of domestic revenue.
The utility also reported progress in expanding the country’s installed generation capacity. Seven turbines at the Aysha II wind power project, with a combined capacity of 17.5 MW, entered operation during the quarter, bringing Ethiopia’s total installed generation capacity to 9,747.5 MW.
The development is expected to support the country’s efforts to diversify its energy sources, improve electricity supply and increase its capacity to serve both domestic consumers and regional markets.