VZCZCXRO6343
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #2843/01 3371200
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031200Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7003
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4108
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0542
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0385
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 5672
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 4136
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 1618
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 0202
RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 3834
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0072
RUEHPL/AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS 0908
RUEHAN/AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO 0144
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1227
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK 0027
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 5016

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 ADDIS ABABA 002843 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E-JWIEGERT,OES/PCI-MGERDIN,OES/STC- 
TBURNS,OES/SAT-FECHAVARRIA,EEB/IFD/OMA-JWINKL ER AND EEB/CBA- 
DWINSTEAD 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID JEFF HUMBER 
 
USTDA KATHRYN DORMINEY 
 
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC FOR ITA MARIA RIVERO 
 
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC FOR REBECCA KLEIN 
 
DEPT OF ENERGY FOR TSPERL 
 
E.O. 12958: NA 
 
TAGS: KSCA SENV ENRG ETRD PGOV ECON ET
 
SUBJECT: OCT-NOV REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT NEWSLETTER, EAST AFRICA 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  001.2 OF 012 
 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1. (U) Summary: This Regional Environment Office (REO) eastern 
Africa newsletter combines reporting from October and November 
2009, with an emphasis on energy developments, the latest USG 
and Africa climate change positions in the run up to 
Copenhagen, updates on the Nile Basin Initiative, and an 
article on land degradation in Ethiopia. From climate change 
to renewable energy development and transboundary watershed 
management and its implication on food security, Environment- 
Science-Technology-Health (ESTH) issues are hot topics 
garnering high-level foreign policy attention. To view a copy 
of the newsletter online, visit our intranet site: 
http://addisababa.state.gov/REO_Newsletter/ 
default.asp?fname=2009. End summary. 
 
----------------------------------- 
East Africa Alternative Energy Buzz 
----------------------------------- 
¶2. (U) The African Rift Geothermal Risk Mitigation Fund 
Stakeholders Conference: U.S. Embassy Nairobi Christopher 
Walton and U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa Moges Worku attended the 
African Rift Geothermal Risk Mitigation Fund (ARGeo) 
Stakeholders Conference at the United Nations Environment 
Program (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya on November 25- 
26, 2009.  The ARGeo project was created in 2005, but is only 
just nearing the implementation phase with the Lake Asaal 
geothermal project in Djibouti.  ARGeo's premise is to provide 
insurance for consortiums interested in drilling geothermal 
wells. If the well is unusable, then the insurance will defray 
part of the cost of the drilling (one well at 60; 75% if 
multiple wells are drilled). If the drilling is successful, 
than no money is spent and the money can be used to provide 
insurance for another drilling cycle. The ARGeo project has 
approximately $11 million for the insurance portion and $7 
million for technical assistance. Approximately $13 million is 
from the World Bank and $4 million from UNEP. Each project's 
insurance could consume up to $5 million so ARGeo can only 
fund two failures before running out of money. Any remaining 
technical assistance money could still be spent. 
 
¶3. (U) WB-GEF, Germany, and Iceland Say USG Needs to Step Up: 
The conference was contentious with targeted comments against 
the USG for a lack of commitment to the ARGeo fund. 
Christopher and Moges noted that their presence at the meeting 
was as observers and they were not authorized to state 
commitments.  They highlighted the USG contributions to date 
and noted a desire to stay engaged with the intent to commit 
in the future as opportunities arise and resources become 
available, particularly as it is just coming online in the 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  002.2 OF 012 
 
 
implementation phase and has the potential to play a key role 
in further developing geothermal resources in the region. 
 
¶4. (U) Without Commitment, USG to Lose Seat at Steering 
Committee: Representatives from the World Bank, the Global 
Environment Facility (GEF), Iceland, and Germany were not 
pleased with USG responses and concluded that the USG seat on 
the Steering Committee would be in jeopardy if commitments are 
not forthcoming. The Iceland representative read a 2005 
document that cited a USG commitment of $1.3million to the 
ARGeo fund.  DoE clarified to the Regional Environment Office 
(REO) in Addis Ababa and GEF officials in early September 2009 
that the USG never made a financial commitment to support the 
ARGeo fund with a specific figure.  Rather, we have made in- 
kind contributions and our contributions to the GEF fund serve 
as our financial commitment to the ARGeo.  Christopher and 
Moges reiterated this message at the ARGeo meeting.  Other 
countries took issue with the accuracy of this 2005 GEF 
document as well. 
 
¶5. (U) Poor planning:  This meeting was announced with just 
over two weeks advanced notice and took place on the 
Thanksgiving holiday.  Regardless, USG representatives were 
able to attend.  The World Bank Chair of the meeting reported 
that Italy and France were expected to come to the meeting, 
yet they did not show up. The Japanese, another key player in 
ARGeo funding, did not respond to the last minute invitation. 
 
¶6. (U) Comment: The lack of advanced planning for this meeting 
speaks volumes, with key players (Italy, France, Japan, and 
New Zealand) not in attendance.  Key GEF officials knew the 
USG position in advance and should not have been surprised. 
Excluding the USG from future meetings and the Steering 
Committee would be short-sighted.  REO recommends that the USG 
should continue engagement: the ARGeo project has buy-in from 
all of the countries in the region and ARGeo offers a platform 
for cooperation and data sharing between countries in the East 
African region.  The U.S., through many activities, was 
instrumental in bringing ARGeo to the GEF for funding and we 
should not let others usurp full credit for the initiative. 
End comment. 
 
--------------- 
ACROSS ETHIOPIA 
--------------- 
¶7. (U) Is Ethiopia's Energy Sector Serious about Attracting Foreign 
 
Investment? Positive Signs: United States Trade and 
Development Agency (USTDA) desk officer for eastern Africa and 
a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 
consultant recently visited Ethiopia to explore potential 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  003.2 OF 012 
 
 
opportunities for U.S. investment.  REO requested the USTDA 
visit given recent developments that suggest the Government of 
Ethiopia's (GoE) willingness to open its energy-sector to 
outside investment.  For example, the Minister of Mines and 
Energy, during a meeting with Charge Meece and DCM Mushingui, 
noted that the GoE is considering permitting various power 
purchasing agreements (PPAs) and other modalities conducive to 
attracting outside investment in the electricity sector. 
Moreover, a September 2009 conference on how to set 
up/structure PPAs was held in Addis, the GoE hosted a June 
2009 High Level Decision Makers Conference on Geothermal in 
Addis that focused on the need enact reforms to generate 
investment (along a KenGen model), and Ethiopia also hosted a 
December 2008 energy investment meeting in Addis all touted 
Ethiopia's intention to attract much-needed foreign investment 
into its floundering energy sector. 
 
¶8. (U) USTDA Visit: REO accompanied the USTDA official on her 
energy sector meetings with the Ministry of Mines and Energy 
(MoME), the Geological Survey of Ethiopia (GSE), the Ethiopia 
Electrical Agency (EEA), and the Ethiopia Electric and Power 
Company (EEPCo). Discussions were informative and the USTDA 
official noted a potential to fund small-scale capacity 
building projects. USTDA, however, surmised that larger-scale 
funding would be premature in a pre-drilling environment, 
particularly given that EEPCo officials informed the USTDA 
official that they currently seek concessional financing for 
energy projects (similar to Japan's arrangement at the Aluto 
expansion). 
 
¶9. (U) USAID AIP: While EEPCo's assertion seemed to contradict 
signals from other branches of the GoE involved in the energy 
sector, a USAID consultant from Nextant (the implementing arm 
of USAID's Washington-based Africa Infrastructure Project-AIP) 
visited Ethiopia on the heels of the USTDA visit and received 
similar information regarding concessional financing. 
According to the readout of the USAID-AIP visit, the 
consultant noted "the government wants to see the private 
sector complement public resources but it prefers 
concessionary financing for the public sector to take the 
lead, for now."  There may be room for some small-scale USAID- 
AIP engagement, however, with the consultant reporting that he 
will "seek to identify the way to proceed for future 
cooperation." To add to the mix, a revised feed-in tariff in 
draft form appears to leave the door open for private 
investors to sell electricity to grid, although the language 
remains vague and the bill has not yet passed Parliament. 
 
¶10. (U) Comment: The good news is that, despite conflicting 
messages, there appears to be slow progress.  Like an enormous 
elephant that is just starting to move, sheer inertia is 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  004.2 OF 012 
 
 
working in the favor of establishing a forward momentum after 
those first tentative steps. End Comment. 
 
¶11. (U) REO PodCast: REO eastern Africa joined forces with the 
Africa Media Hub in Pretoria, South Africa to generate a 
podcast focused on the environmental issues in East Africa 
ahead of the December Copenhagen climate change meeting.  One 
of the Africa Media Hub's key mandates is to increase the 
number of USG voices in the African Sphere. They accomplish 
this mainly through media interviews or self recorded podcasts 
which they then distribute to media in Africa.  For more 
information about the program, or to request an interview to 
promote your issues, contact Wangui Muchiri at 
Muchiriwe@state.gov. To listen to the REO podcast, visit: 
usgreenafrica.state.gov or 
http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/mediahub.htm l. 
 
¶12. (U) America Recycles Day: OES hosted a Recycling Exhibit 
at the State Department in Washington, DC on November 21, 
highlighting U.S. embassy recycling efforts throughout the 
world. To support the exhibit, embassies provided posters, 
slide shows, and videos. The Exhibit was filmed and will be 
part of a BNET presentation on recycling tentatively scheduled 
to be aired the second week of December.  Due to the success, 
FSI has requested that the exhibit come to them.  U.S. Embassy 
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia submitted copies of two posters, 
highlighting our plastic bottle and paper recycling programs. 
 
¶13. (U) Pervasive Land Degradation Documented in Ethiopia and 
Food Security Implications: The Regional Environment 
Specialist (RES) evaluated areas within the Ethiopian 
highlands following Ethiopia's rainy season for three 
consecutive years, completing a study that cites unsustainable 
activities such as over-cultivation, overgrazing, 
deforestation, and farming on steep slopes with erodible soils 
have combined over the years to result in pervasive land 
degradation. 
 
¶14. (U) With over 80% of Ethiopia's population involved in 
agriculture, the GoE's economy is largely driven by and 
dependent upon agriculture.  Although government officials pay 
tribute to the need for agricultural reform, patterns of land 
degradation and deforestation continue throughout Ethiopia 
despite government claims to the contrary.  Studies conducted 
by the Environmental Economics Policy Forum for Ethiopia 
(EEPFE) have produced similar findings of poor agricultural 
practices and neglect that support the RES study.  Given 
direct linkages to food insecurity, water insecurity, energy 
shortages, and economic losses, the adverse impacts of land 
degradation hamper efforts to promote poverty alleviation and 
fuel economic growth; two U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa Mission 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  005.2 OF 012 
 
 
Strategic Plan priorities. Without vital reforms designed to 
address soil and water conservation, the agricultural sector 
will continue to fail to produce, famine will accompany 
droughts, and agricultural development-based plans will remain 
ineffective. 
Please visit the RES photo gallery to access pictures of the 
RES three-year study:  F:\Regional 
Environment\Admin\Issues\Environmental 
management\Ethiopia\Monitoring Watershed Processes 
 
¶15. (U) Embassy Co-hosts Event with Lester Brown, Earth Policy 
Institute Founder: During his International Visitor Leadership 
Program (IVLP) in the U.S. in the summer 2009, the Ethiopian 
Forum for Environment (FfE) Director Negusu Aklihi met the 
Earth Policy Institute founder and MacArthur Award winner Dr. 
Lester Brown and invited him to be the featured speaker at a 
High Level Meeting in Addis Ababa on October 26.  Dr. Brown 
spoke on the topic of his latest book, "Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing 
to Save Civilizations."  The Embassy co-sponsored the 
conference and Charg d'affairs Ambassador Roger Meece 
delivered opening remarks.  The approximately 40 audience 
members included senior officials from the GOE, 
representatives of NGOs and academics in the environmental 
field, as well as foreign diplomats. 
 
¶16. (U) Dr. Brown is an inspirational speaker on the topic of 
environmental sustainability and climate change. Dr. Brown's 
long experience as an environmentalist and researcher was 
evident in his ability to chart progress in the development of 
renewable resources and awareness by governments and citizens 
alike of the importance of environmental issues.  He was 
surprisingly upbeat about U.S. policy direction over the last 
nine months on environmental issues, citing 1) the Obama 
Administration's announcement in February of new fuel economy 
standards; 2) President Obama's instruction to the Department 
of Energy to develop regulations on appliance efficiencies; 3) 
the substantial incentives in the stimulus package for 
investment in renewable energies and clean technologies; 4) 
the emission cutting goals that will be set for the federal 
government; and 5) the Environmental Protection Agency 
Administrator's request to businesses for annual carbon 
footprint measurements. 
 
¶17. (U) Dr. Brown posited that U.S. carbon emissions may have 
actually peaked two years ago, noting that the nine percent 
emissions reduction of the last two years cannot be attributed 
to the economic slowdown alone.  He pointed out that 22 U.S. 
coal-fired power plants are slated to close this year, and 
that oil-dependent Texas is now the leading generator of 
electricity from wind power.  The big question, according to 
Dr. Brown, is whether the U.S. and the world will be able to 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  006.2 OF 012 
 
 
cut our carbon emissions quickly enough to preserve our 
"civilization as we know it." 
 
¶18. (U) Ethiopian-American Returns to Birthplace and Makes a 
Difference: During a recent Watershed Processes Assessment 
trip to the Central and Northern Ethiopia highlands, the 
Regional Environment Specialist (RES) had a chance to visit a 
reforestation project run by a private individual, Ato Gashaw 
Tahir, in the Western Amhara Region. Gashaw was born in the 
area but lived in the U.S. for 30 years.  When he recently 
returned to his place of birth, he was astounded by the extent 
of deforestation that had taken place in the area that he 
remembers as having abundant forest cover. Deciding to act, he 
shared a reforestation plan with the local administration who 
then granted him land. Using his own finances, he then raised 
over a million seedlings and planted more than 40 hectares (99 
acres) of degraded land in 2006. 
 
¶19. (U) After three years of management, his plantation sites 
have turned into promising forest areas which many view as 
typical examples of what could be done to reverse the 
pervasive land degradation process on the Ethiopian highlands, 
even at the individual level. Gashaw also encouraged local 
institutions such as schools and private individuals to plant 
trees by supplying them with seedlings free of charge.  Due to 
Gashaw's exemplary community service, he was honored with 
"Green Hero" 2009 awards at both Federal and Regional levels. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
Environment Meetings/Workshops in Ethiopia 
------------------------------------------ 
¶20. (U) Peace Corps Environment: Peace Corps Ethiopia is in 
the process of expanding its activities by starting a new 
sector in environment to complement its existing Health 
program. Peace Corps' involvement in the health sector has 
played a contributory role toward the realization of 
Ethiopia's Millennium Development goals in the health sector, 
but the country remains behind in reaching the goals within 
the Environment sector. Consequently, in September 2010 Peace 
Corps Ethiopia plans to launch the Conservation and Natural 
Resource Management (CNRM) sector based on the demand to fill 
the gaps within this important and rapidly growing sector. 
REO will attend the December 22, 2009 stakeholders meeting and 
offer program development input. 
 
¶21. (U) Colorado State University (CSU) and the National 
Science Foundation (NSF): CSU and NSF will host two workshops 
in Addis Ababa, December 18 and 21, 2009. The first is 
designed to build collaborative networks between U.S. and 
Ethiopia in areas of research and higher education, while the 
second will focus on professional training programs in 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  007.2 OF 012 
 
 
Geographic Information Systems (GIS).  REO will attend both 
workshops and offer input regarding GIS needs throughout the 
region.  REO will also host a dinner with the trainers. 
 
¶22. (U) The Office of Naval Research Science and Technology 
Workshop: The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is organizing a 
science and technology workshop in Egypt in January, 2009 
along with the Naval Medical Research Unity-3.  ONR is 
focusing first on North Africa and the Middle East, but is 
starting the process of exploring how to better invest in 
science and technology research throughout Africa. The meeting 
is a step toward devising a comprehensive strategy for ONR 
investment in sub-Saharan Africa, with ONR hoping to identify 
research projects for investment as a result of the workshop. 
ONR reached out to both REO eastern Africa and REO Middle 
East-North Africa for input.  In addition to attending the 
workshop, REO has volunteered to be a presenter, explaining 
what we do and how we can work together. 
 
------------- 
WATER MATTERS 
------------- 
¶23. (U) Nile Basin Initiative's 10th Anniversary: REO will 
attend the Nile Basin Initiative's (NBI) ten-year anniversary 
ceremony in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, December 6-8, 2009.  The 
celebrations will mark ten years of cooperation and progress 
in the sustainable management of the Nile River water 
resources and represents the NBI communication team's efforts 
to broadcast the Nile success story.  The three-day event will 
bring together government leaders, members of parliament, 
civil society, media, academia, business community, youth, and 
development partners, among others for speeches, workshops, 
and other activities. 
 
¶24. (U) What is there to celebrate? With contentious 
Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) negotiations in flux, 
what does the NBI have to celebrate?  Over the past decade, 
the Nile Basin member states have come together to build a 
knowledge base covering the river, its wetlands and 
tributaries, and the livelihoods and vulnerabilities of the 
more than 160 million people who live within the Nile basin. 
The NBI has mobilized more than $1 billion in investments to 
support improved access to energy as well as water resources 
and environmental services.  Of critical importance is the 
fact that the past decade has seen the emergence of regional 
thinking and collaborative decision-making among the Nile 
basin member states, advancing a key objective to promote 
peace and stability throughout the region. 
 
¶25. (U) Nile Basin Trust Fund Meeting: The Nile Basin Trust 
Fund (NBTF) donor partners met in Stockholm, Sweden in early 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  008.2 OF 012 
 
 
October to discuss NBI progress and prospects for the future. 
The general consensus was that NBI projects and programs were 
progressing on schedule and mostly on target, advancing key 
technical objectives in a timely manner.  Of particular note 
was the success of Nile-TAC (technical advisory committee) in 
terms of overcoming regional suspicions and prejudices.  For 
example, the NBI's Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office 
(ENTRO) located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is staffed by 
representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan.  In the early 
days of the NBI, this office was a hotbed of discontent, with 
staff communicating with their home country more frequently 
than with each other.  Ten years later, and the ENTRO office 
is a model of cooperation and collaboration, with little 
evidence of the early-day rivalries.  Donor partners are 
anxious that the politically contentious CFA negotiations 
taking place at the Nile Council of Ministers (Nile-COM) 
level, however, may have an adverse impact at the technical 
levels, as evidenced by the results of the First Joint Meeting 
of the Nile-Technical Advisory Committee (Nile-TAC) and the 
Negotiating Committee of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) that 
was held in Kampala September 28 and 29. 
 
¶26. (U) Joint Meeting: The joint meeting was convened 
following a decision of the Nile-COM at their 17th Ordinary 
Session held July 27 and 28 in Alexandria, Egypt. Participants 
were drawn from the nine Nile Basin countries. A UK NBTF 
colleague reported that the meeting was tense and acrimonious 
and served no purpose other than to highlight that the gap 
between upper and lower riparians seems to be widening. The 
Egyptians, as the Chair, went to the meeting with no new ideas 
and they refused to sign the agreed minutes at the end of the 
meeting. 
 
¶27. (U) Moving forward: The World Bank is advising that, at 
this critical time for the NBI where high levels of government 
are engaging, it is important that donor countries respect 
that the present CFA issue is a political matter between 
sovereign states. Bank officials recommend that donor partners 
'stand back, but stand by,' (meaning, refrain from engaging 
proactively, but be ready to consider reasonable requests for 
support). The World Bank Nile Team feels the focus at this 
time should be to continue to support the NBI on the delivery 
of its programs and projects (meaning, the technical level), 
stating that "continued progress by the NBI in building a 
regional institution and delivering investments needs to speak 
for itself." Donor partners contemplated sending an NBTF 
communiqu to the NBI and Nile-COM following the NBTF October 
meeting, to advance the message that we support continued 
efforts to reach a unified solution that will institutionalize 
formal intergovernmental mechanisms for promoting cooperation 
and coordination within the basin. After much deliberation, 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  009.2 OF 012 
 
 
all agreed to withhold the communiqu to avoid the risk of 
basin countries manipulating the communiqu's text to 
influence the next Nile-COM meeting scheduled for late 
February/early March 2010. (Contact REO if you would like to 
see a copy of the draft communiqu: Baumanks@state.gov.) 
 
¶28. (U) Nile-COM 2010: The six-month "cool down" period agreed 
to at the July 2009 Nile-COM meeting in Egypt has not provided 
a basis for the Nile basin countries to move forward in an 
inclusive manner regarding the CFA. The upper riparian 
countries continue to retain their views as expressed by the 
decisions taken at the Nile-COM meeting in May 2009 in 
Kinshasa (with the six upper riparians willing to sign the CFA 
without Egypt and Sudan, effecting an NBI "split"). Egypt and 
Sudan, however, argue that the Nile-COM meeting in Alexandria 
in July reversed the decisions previously taken in Kinshasa in 
May. Yet because no new ideas have been circulated to address 
the stalemate, another confrontation for a potential "CFA 
split" at the next Nile-COM meeting looms on the horizon. 
Egypt, however, appears to be engaging in a frenzied "charm" 
campaign to win over some of the upper riparians and gain 
another 6-month respite period.  U.S. Embassy Cairo officer 
covering African affairs reports a recent beef deal between 
Ethiopia and Egypt.  Moreover, Egypt is making overtures 
throughout the basin to help countries with agricultural 
development through Nile irrigation schemes (Egypt would be in 
charge of the development).  The U.S embassy officer in Cairo 
noted that it's his understanding that this may already be 
underway in Uganda with Egypt's intent, according to the U.S. 
embassy Cairo officer, to "pick off" two of the upper 
riparians (likely Uganda and Tanzania) so that they don't 
agree to sign the CFA in late February/early March 2010. 
 
¶29. (U) Tekeze Dam Opening Ceremony: On November 14, 2009, the 
government of Ethiopia celebrated the completion of the 
government-funded $350 million Tekeze Hydropower Project in 
northern Ethiopia.  The dedication ceremony took place at the 
site of the dam on Ethiopia's Tekeze River and attracted 
foreign and Ethiopian government officials, media and business 
leaders and included remarks from U.S. Embassy Charge 
d'affairs, Ambassador Roger Meece.  Ambassador Meece praised 
Ethiopia's commitment to bringing power and a better quality 
of life to the people of Ethiopia through the development of 
renewable energy sources, and urged the government to continue 
diversification from imported petroleum, citing Ethiopia's 
"staggering amount of potential renewable energy sources that 
include geothermal, wind, solar, and biofuel as well as 
hydro." Other speakers included Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, 
the Minister of Mines and Energy, the Minister of Trade and 
Industry, the Director General of the Ethiopian Electric Power 
Corporation, the Chinese Ambassador, and others. 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  010.2 OF 012 
 
 
 
¶30. (U) Ethiopia is in the throes of dire energy shortages 
(peaking at 200MW in 2009).  The GoE was forced to cut 
electricity for 14 hours daily for 12 days each month during 
the summer and early fall 2009; a situation that reportedly 
cost the country's economy more than 1% of its GDP.  Although 
Ethiopia has 783 MW of grid-based electricity, domestic peak 
demand has reportedly risen 24% beyond the national utility's 
supply.  By tapping into the significant energy generation 
potential in the country's rivers, the Tekeze Hydropower 
Project is designed as a low-cost way to increase the 
stability and access to light, heat and water for all 
communities. At 188 meters-high, the Tekeze Hydropower Project 
is the tallest dam in Africa.  It is expected to provide 300 
megawatts of clean, renewable power, although it currently is 
generating 75 MW.  GoE officials claim that water levels are 
sufficient to operate the plant at full capacity, but at those 
levels, the dam would run out of water before the next rainy 
season.  According to GoE officials, the dam's reservoir 
should have sufficient levels of water storage to continually 
run at full capacity after capturing the rains from the 2010 
rainy season. 
 
¶31. (U) According the Ethiopia's Minister of Trade and 
Industry, two other plants, Tana Beles and Gilgel Gibe II, are 
nearly complete and will begin generating power by March 2010. 
These, plus Tekeze, will have the combined potential to inject 
1,000 megawatts of electricity into the grid and, according to 
the Minister, will put an end to Ethiopia's black outs 
beginning in 2010. 
 
-------------- 
CLIMATE CHANGE 
-------------- 
¶32. (U) Climate Change Teleconference Outreach: The Deputy 
Special Envoy for Climate Change, Jonathan Pershing, conducted 
a climate change outreach teleconference with U.S. ambassadors 
throughout Africa on November 24, 2009. Discussions focused on 
the status of the United Nations Framework Convention on 
Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations, the USG vision for 
Copenhagen, the African position, and to encourage interaction 
with high-level counterparts in the final weeks before 
Copenhagen.  Pershing circulated the latest White House 
guidance and Talking Points after the call. 
 
¶33. (U) The African Position on Climate Change: Leading up to 
the COP-15 climate change meeting in Copenhagen, African 
nations are ramping up efforts to define a cohesive, 
continent-wide position on climate change. The intent is to 
attend the conference with one voice, one delegation, and one 
message that focuses on mitigation, adaptation, and technology 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  011.2 OF 012 
 
 
transfer. 
 
¶34. (U) One voice, one delegation, one message: 
One voice: As Chair of the Conference of African Heads of 
State and Governments on Climate Change (CAHOSCC, also 
referred to as the AU Committee of 10), Ethiopian PM Meles was 
named head of the African delegation in August 2009. One 
delegation: Meles will represent just over 50 African nations 
in his role as Head of Delegation in Copenhagen, Denmark, 
December 7-18, 2009. One message: CAHOSCC is in the process of 
strengthening and finalizing what amounts to the first AU- 
sanctioned position on climate change.  The African Union's 
African Common Platform to Copenhagen from the May 2009 
Algiers Declaration serves as the platform for the Common 
African Position. 
 
¶35. (U) Mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer: 
Mitigation: Africa supports the position that polluter 
countries must agree to cut emissions by 40% from 1990 levels 
by 2020 (this echoes the call by "poorer" countries 
worldwide). Adaptation: On November 17, 2009 in Addis, CAHOSCC 
agreed on an adaptation sum to demand from the polluter 
countries; an amount that will compensate for the impact of 
climate change on the African continent.  Although the 
Committee of Ten announced that this figure is not to be 
disclosed until negotiations begin in Copenhagen, the likely 
range will be between $67-200 billion a year, beginning in 
¶2020. Technology Transfer:  Africa will request assistance in 
catching up to the west in the form of technology transfers 
accompanied by relaxed intellectual property rights. 
 
¶36. (U) Africa's Expectations: PM Meles said on November 17th 
that Africa wants a treaty to be agreed in Copenhagen but 
could accept a 'binding political agreement' as a stepping 
stone to a treaty being agreed upon at a later date.  Meles 
repeatedly stresses that the African position must be heard 
and taken seriously in Copenhagen and he has stated he will 
walk out of the negotiations if his delegation's views are 
marginalized or dismissed.  A temporary boycott of talks in 
Barcelona in November 2009 was testament to the seriousness of 
this threat, although UK colleagues in Addis Ababa that work 
closely with the AU climate change team through ClimDev, 
described the act as an advanced-warning, muscle-flexing 
tactic in the lead up to Copenhagen; that it was orchestrated 
to demonstrate both their weight and the extent to which they 
are organized and prepared to act as a cohesive unit.  In the 
UK assessment, with the Barcelona temporary boycott behind 
them, the Africa delegation will be prepared to seriously 
engage in Copenhagen. 
 
¶37. (U) Institute for Security Studies Think Tank Seminar on 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002843  012.2 OF 012 
 
 
Climate Change and Africa: At a recent seminar on climate 
change organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) 
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, speakers articulated their 
expectations in Copenhagen.  EU representatives announced an 
intent to cut emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020 and 
called upon others to do the same.  The Director of the 
Ethiopia Environment Protection Agency called upon rich 
countries to "stop being cruel to Africa" and begin to be a 
part of the solution by agreeing to robust mitigation 
measures, generous adaptation sums without "strings attached," 
and technology transfers that bypass "unfair" intellectual 
property rights.  While he often referred to the need to work 
together for the benefit of the planet, his intervention often 
lapsed into an "us vs. them" diatribe, stating at times that 
"we must beat them." The Director of an Ethiopian civil 
society NGO and recent U.S. International Visitor Leadership 
Program (IVLP) participant, Negusu Aklilu, spoke to the 
audience in a more measured tone.  Speaking out regarding the 
U.S. obligation to take a leadership role in Copenhagen, he 
focused on scientific reporting to highlight the relevancy of 
a 40% carbon emission reduction figure.  For more on his point 
of view, visit the following site: http://www.addisfortune. 
com/Vol%2010%20No%20492%20Archive/Viewpoint.h tm 
 
¶38. (U) Public Affairs Section Outreach Event: The U.S. 
Embassy Addis Ababa Public Affairs Section hosted a December 
1, 2009 discussion with Negusu regarding his experience in the 
U.S. under the IVLP.  The Public Affairs section invited REO 
to speak as well, giving me the opportunity to highlight our 
office's objectives and activities to a room full of 
university students, non-government organization (NGO) 
activists, and other interested environmentalists.  I also 
took the opportunity to address some of Negusu's climate 
change positions, noting that this is a global crisis that 
demands a global solution with all parties working together in 
partnership if we are to identify and achieve realistic and 
practical resolutions in Copenhagen. 
 
#MEECE