Ethiopia Alerts on El Niño Threat to Hydropower and Electricity Supply
Ethiopia warns that the upcoming El Niño could disrupt its hydropower-dependent energy system, urging early mitigation to prevent power outages.
By John Mtongoi Newsroom
August 18, 2026
2 min read
The Ethiopian government has issued a warning about the potential effects of the anticipated El Niño weather phenomenon on the country's hydropower-based electricity supply.
Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), the state agency overseeing power generation and transmission, highlighted that over 90% of Ethiopia's electricity is generated from hydroelectric dams, making the nation highly vulnerable to climate variations linked to El Niño.
Risks to Power Generation
- El Niño is expected to cause significant shifts in rainfall and temperature patterns, leading to droughts and water shortages.
- Reduced rainfall will lower water inflows into hydropower reservoirs, limiting turbine operation and electricity generation capacity.
- Such disruptions could create a widening gap between electricity supply and demand, potentially forcing power rationing and outages affecting households and critical economic sectors.
Call for Proactive Measures
The EEP emphasized the importance of understanding El Niño risks and implementing early interventions, including:
- Diversifying energy sources beyond hydropower
- Integrated management of water resources
- Improved weather forecasting technologies
- Enhanced energy conservation practices
Last month, the African Union also urged member states to strengthen preparedness for the 2026/2027 El Niño event, warning of severe droughts, floods, heatwaves, and related challenges across several African regions.
