(Ecofin Agency) - Chinese firm Dongfang Electric will construct in the Ethiopian state of Somali a 120-MW wind park. Ethiopia’s government expects works for the project to begin in July as pre-construction work is undergoing.

“The wind farm project is expected to need 18 months to finish, cost about $257 million to construct with 85% of the funding coming from the China’s Export-Import Bank and the rest from the Ethiopian government,” said Bizuneh Tolcha, Public Relation and Communication Director at the Ethiopa Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy.

Once it is completed, the plant will be Ethiopia’s fourth wind project and will bring power generated from wind parks to 444MW. Ethiopia is Africa’s nation with the most ecologic renewable energy mix. It plans to boost its power output from 4,200 MW currently to 17,300 MW by 2020.

Gwladys Johnson