Ethiopia is preparing to launch six large-scale infrastructure projects worth an estimated $30 billion. The initiative is inclusive of a nuclear power plant, an oil refinery, a natural gas facility, an airport expansion program, and the construction of 1.5 million housing units over the next six years. Ethiopia will commence the construction of a mega nuclear power plant in a month’s time. This information about the Ethiopia Nuclear Power Plant was revealed by the country’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday.
Factsheet
Project announcement: The plan for the nuclear power plant was announced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during the GERD inauguration on September 9, 2025
Scale and significance: Prime Minister Abiy stated that the nuclear plant would be “equal to the GERD” in its scale and importance. Therefore, this signals that it is a major component of the country’s development strategy.
Rationale: The proposed nuclear plant is intended to provide a stable, “baseload” power source to diversify Ethiopia’s energy mix. The country’s energy mix is currently dominated by hydropower. This will help the country meet its rapidly growing electricity demand and reduce its vulnerability to climate-related issues like drought.
Existing framework: Ethiopia has been working on a national nuclear program for some time. It has been receiving support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and cooperation agreements with other countries like Russia. The country plans to have two units, each with a capacity of around 1200 MW, operational between 2032 and 2034. There is also consideration for smaller, more flexible Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
The Nuclear Power Plant to be Equal to the GERD
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Ahmed stated that the nuclear power plant would be “equal to the GERD” in terms of scale and significance.
Additionally, the government of Ethiopia decided to go for nuclear energy and signed a cooperation agreement with Russia in the year 2017.
Currently, the country boasts approximately 5 GW of installed capacity for a population of over 120 million whose demand for power is growing at about 20 percent a year.
The hydro dominated systems have been severely affected by drought. This has forced the government of Ethiopia is now working to diversify the generation mix with other sources. These sources include solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear that will result in a more climate resilient power system.
Ethiopian Airlines Mega Airport Unveiled
Also, PM Ahmed made an announcement of the imminent construction of a massive new airport for Ethiopian Airlines. This airport is set to become Africa’s largest aviation hub.
The mega airport will have an initial capacity to handle 60 million passengers annually. Furthermore, the airport is a key component of Ethiopia’s strategy to reinstate its role as a leader in continental air transport and logistics.
Additionally, the PM revealed that the country’s first gas factory is scheduled to be inaugurated in the coming weeks. Also, within the same period, a second gas plant, more than ten times larger, will commence its construction works.
Lastly, an oil refinery was revealed. The prime minister stated that it would “turn our long-held dream of extracting oil into reality.” The refinery is slated to kick off operations in less than a month’s time.
