Ethiopia’s state-owned power distributor, Ethiopian Electric Utility, has signed a cooperation agreement with China Southern Power Grid Company aimed at strengthening the country’s electricity infrastructure and service delivery.

The agreement was reached following discussions in Addis Ababa between senior officials from both institutions, led on the Ethiopian side by the utility’s chief executive officer, Engineer Getu Geremew. The talks centred on expanding technical cooperation as Ethiopia seeks to modernise its power system and address persistent supply challenges.

Under the cooperation framework, the two sides agreed to work together on electricity transmission and distribution networks, smart grid operations and the application of artificial intelligence in predictive maintenance. The partnership also includes collaboration on the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and measures to improve customer service delivery.

Officials said the cooperation is intended to support efforts to modernise and stabilise Ethiopia’s power supply through the adoption of technology-driven and innovative operational approaches.

China Southern Power Grid is a state-owned utility that operates electricity networks in southern China and has been expanding its international engagement, particularly in emerging markets. The Ethiopian utility said the partnership aligns with its broader strategy to improve reliability and efficiency in the power sector as demand continues to grow.