Ethiopia has resumed plans to construct what would become the tallest skyscraper in sub-Saharan Africa. The $445 million project, located in Addis Ababa’s Kirkos district, will feature the construction of a 62-storey headquarters for the state-owned Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP).
Originally proposed in 2023, the project was temporarily halted due to funding and planning issues. It is now making progress again, with international contractors being sought for its construction, reflecting Ethiopia’s commitment to urban and infrastructure development.
According to the Insider, the project is under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract model, and for contractors to qualify, they must have at least 10 years of experience and have completed three projects in the past worth $370 million or more.
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Dar Al-Handasah, an international consulting company based in Lebanon, is the design and construction supervision consultant.
With 62 stories, the building will have a total floor area of approximately 2.1 million square feet. It will feature three basement levels for parking and facilities, with upper floors that will serve as EEP offices. The building will also come with sky gardens and a rooftop restaurant, serving as a hub for business and leisure in Addis Ababa.
Expected to stand at a remarkable 1,074 feet, the building will surpass the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Headquarters and Johannesburg’s Leonardo Tower (768 feet) to become the tallest building in sub-Saharan Africa.
The headquarters, with its eco-friendly design, is scheduled to be completed by 2030 and will become a symbol of modern engineering and sustainable design, analysts say.
Seven years ago, Africa’s first waste-to-energy plant opened its doors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
READ ALSO: Ethiopia builds Africa’s first energy plant that converts trash into electricity
The plant was erected by the China National Electrical Engineering Company (CNEEC) and was being fully financed by the Ethiopian government, Face2Face Africa reported at the time.
Dubbed the Reppie project, the waste-to-energy center’s goal is to process 1,400 tons of solid waste. Then-President Mulatu Teshome commented, “The growth of energy sector has been a key driver of economic growth in Ethiopia over the last several years, this happened because electricity supply is much needed in order for the economy to transition from predominantly agricultural to industrial and to attract local and foreign investors.”
Teshome went on to say, “Ethiopia has been investing extensively in hydropower, geothermal, wind energy, solar energy and now biomass to boost the manufacturing sector with a supply of clean, renewable energy.
“Reppie waste-to-energy project is part of that grand strategy.”
