EASTERN AFRICA POWER POOL REGIONAL TRADE CONFERENCE 2024

Ashebir Balcha is the Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), an organization established to generate power, construct various generation, transmission, and substation projects, and operate the power plants and national grid. He is a mechanical engineer, holds his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Arba Minch University. He also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on International Business from Greenwich University, UK, which has equipped him with both technical expertise and managerial skills. Additionally, he pursued advanced courses in sustainable energy engineering at KTH, Sweden. Ashebir Balcha represents EEP in multiple forums within the East African Power Pool, utilizing his extensive knowledge and experience in regional energy integration, cross-border power trading, and infrastructure alignment within the East African Power Pool. With over 20 years of experience in Ethiopia's power sector, including nine years in project management, Ashebir Balcha has developed deep expertise in project leadership. He has played a significant role in the evaluation and negotiation of multi-billion-dollar mega-projects, including hydropower projects like Koysha (1,800 MW) and Genale Dawa (GD-6) (246 MW), wind farms such as Adam II (153 MW) and Ayisha (120 MW), Assela I (100 MW), the Reppi Waste-to-Energy project (25 MW), and the Melka-Sedi Biomass project (137 MW), as well as transmission and substation projects (AIS & GIS) funded and developed by multinational companies from Western and Asian countries. Additionally, he has collaborated with institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Chinese EXIM Bank, JICA, and Danida in financing generation and transmission & substation projects. He has also had the privilege of networking with global energy leaders and experts at international conferences held in Ethiopia and abroad, including the ASTANA Expo (2017), Africa Energy Indaba in Johannesburg (2015), the Third International Conference on Finance for Development (UN) (2015), the World Energy Council Executive Assembly (2015), the US-Africa Energy Ministerial (2014), the International Journal on Hydropower & Dams (2013), and the International Hydropower Association Conference (2012). These experiences have enhanced his knowledge of networking, international business, and cross-cultural relationships, complementing his technical expertise.