Ethiopian crisis: Electricity restored to Tigray capital Mekelle

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – Electricity has been restored to Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region of Ethiopia, after more than one year, Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), the state-owned electricity provider, has said.

Ethiopian news outlet, Addis Standard, quoted the Communications Director at Ethiopian Electric Power, Moges Mekonen, as saying that “power is now being supplied to Mekelle from the national grid”.

He added that re-connecting the city to the national power grid would enable EEP to centrally control power supply to and from Mekelle. 

Moges said Mekelle was re-connected following maintenance work of the 230 KV high power transmission line from Alamata to Mekoni, which was severely damaged during the two-year war.

Addis Standard said Mekelle had been without power from the national grid since 28 June 2021.

The capital was plunged into darkness because of fighting between government forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

The Federal government accused Tigrayan forces of deliberately destructing electric infrastructures, while the Tigrayan authorities say the government deliberately cut off basic services including electricity, banking and communications in areas under TPLF administration.

Following a peace deal reached between the warring parties on 2 November in Pretoria, South Africa, the federal government has committed itself to restoring basic services.

Moges said maintenance of power transmission lines connecting Tekeze to Axum is underway, while maintenance of 230KV transmission line supplying power to Humera and Shire has been completed.