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At least two companies promoted by
Indians have got licences to
manufacture transformers in
Ethiopia, it is learnt. However, the firstever
transformer manufacturing company
to be set up in the African nation would be
Addis Transformer & Switchgears Plc, a
joint venture between local company
Bridgetech Plc and Federal Transformer
LLC, a subsidiary of UAE-based Al-
Nasser Industrial Enterprises.
The two Indian entities to have received
licences include Mataji Power &
Transmission Plc and a venture promoted
by Chitt Ranjan Singh Bhatti. In all, five
companies have been granted licences to
manufacture transformers and other
equipment in Ethiopia.
Addis Transformer expects to start
production in September this year from
its greenfield factory in the Tatek
Industrial Zone of Burava Town in the
Oromia regional state.
Transformers are poised to play an
important role in the Ethiopian
government's ongoing plan to increase
the output of the electricity from 2,000
mw to 8,000 mw in five years, according
to the government's long-term vision. It
plans to increase electricity coverage
from 41 per cent to 75 per cent, increase
the length of distribution lines from
126,038 km to 258,000 km, and reduce
power wastage from 11.5 per cent to
below 6 per cent.
Apart from Ethiopia, Kenya is also
mulling setting up local manufacturing
facilities for transformers. Bharat Heavy
Electricals has expressed interest in
setting up a greenfield transformer unit
with a Kenyan partner.
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