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The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) is
struggling to provide a round the clock power
service to exporters that would fetch the country
sizable export earnings, despite the decision made
by its Board of Directors.
The board had decided on May 8, 2008 that companies
producing exportable and food products should be
exempted from the power load shedding. Nonetheless,
export companies are still complaining that they
have not been beneficiaries of the latest
regulation.
Ethiopian Meat Producer-Exporters Association of
flour factories, water producers as well as sugar
producers claim that they are still experiencing
black outs.
Elfora Agro Industry Plc, Helemeks Plc, Luna Export
Abattoir Plc, Modjo Modern Export Abattoir Plc and
Organic Export Abattoir Plc, on May14 requested the
power monopoly to exclude them from the power
rationing.
The association’s over seas customers are
disgruntled because orders are not being delivered
to them as expected, according to a letter signed by
Getachew Hagos, president of the association.
Close to 150 companies that are engaged in the
export of textile, leather, food commodities and
other goods, as well as 90 flower farms, were
identified by the Federal Government as sectors that
yield significant returns for the budget year.
The Trade Ministry wants the export sector to grow
by five per cent annually. Its target in this budget
year is 1.7 million dollars. In the 2006/2007 budget
year, it envisaged fetching 1.5 billion dollars but
fell short of 300 million dollars.
In the first nine months of this budget year, the
country grossed one billion Birr, after targeting to
earn 1.28 billion Br.
It is feared that the current blackouts will further
exacerbate the failure to attain the mark at the end
of the budget year.
Other companies engaged in the production of wheat
and flour are also feeling the pinch of power
shedding.
“We do not get power from EEPCo for 10 days. The
moisturized wheat ready for grinding becomes
useless, unless it is ground instantly,” Teshome
Kassa, shareholder and general manager of KOJJ Flour
Factory told Fortune.
He also requested the state power company to stick
to its promise.
Milk producers are also grumbling about the lack of
power.
“One cannot possibly imagine the production of milk
without electricity,” Desalegn Tilahun, general
manager of Shola Milk, told Fortune.
EEPCo began the power shedding one month ago.
Moreover, its executives estimate the power shortage
to continue until July.
“We are providing electricity to those companies
engaged in100pc export and dedicated to production,”
Sendeku Araya, public relations head at the EEPCo,
told Fortune. “We could not help those in mid
towns although we are still trying.”
His assertion is not accepted by Tesfalidet Hagos,
commercial manager of Luna Export Slaughter House
Plc.
“We have installed a 15Km line on our 100hct land in
Meki,” he told Fortune. “There has been no
power so far.” |
