In brief
- On 2 June 2014, Somaliland Sun reported that President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo launched a USAID-funded wind power project at Egal International Airport in Hargeisa.
- The project was said to involve five wind energy facilities intended to meet the airport's total power needs, with four more planned for Las Anod.
- The report does not establish whether the system ever became operational, and no subsequent status has been confirmed.
On 2 June 2014, Somaliland Sun reported that Somaliland president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo officially launched a USAID-funded wind power project at Egal International Airport in Hargeisa. The article, bylined by Latifa Yusuf Masai, stated that the airport was to start utilizing wind powered electricity, with five wind energy facilities intended to meet the airport's total power needs.
The report attributed the project's implementation to the Program for Economic Growth at Egal Airport. President Silanyo thanked donors and implementers, saying the project would help minimize use of diesel-powered generators, and pledged his administration's support for renewable energy projects. The official launch was witnessed by dignitaries from USAID, the government, and Parliament, among others.
Minister of Energy and Minerals Eng Hussein Abdi Duale said electricity rates in Somaliland are high due to a disjointed network of independent providers with their own grids and unreliable, dilapidated equipment. He added that the city loses nearly 40% of its electricity due to technical problems and antiquated materials, a figure presented without source data.
Somaliland Sun also reported that four additional wind energy facilities were planned for Las Anod, expected to create jobs and provide sufficient, cheap electricity. No timeline, funding source, or contractor for those facilities was given. The report noted that USAID, through its Partnership for Economic Growth program, facilitated the drafting of an energy law with the Somaliland Ministry of Energy and Minerals, with Somali and international legal and energy experts involved.
The Somaliland Sun article does not state whether wind powered electricity supply at Egal Airport has actually begun. No information is provided on construction progress, commissioning, or operation since the launch. No contract value, total project cost, or USAID funding amount is given, and no contractor or consultant is identified. The draft energy law's subsequent status is not mentioned.
Frequently asked questions
What is the generation capacity of the Egal Airport wind project?
The Somaliland Sun report does not state installed wind energy capacity in MW or expected generation output. It only mentions five wind energy facilities at the airport and four additional facilities planned for Las Anod.
How does the wind project integrate with the airport's existing power supply?
According to President Silanyo as reported by Somaliland Sun, the project would help minimize use of diesel-powered generators, which the president said was the norm. The report does not provide technical integration details.
Who are the contractors and implementing agencies for the wind project?
Somaliland Sun reported that the project was implemented by the Program for Economic Growth at Egal Airport, but no named contractor, consultant, or implementing company is identified.
Sources
Photo: European Space Agency, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo, via Wikimedia Commons
