On October 2, 2025, Ethiopia celebrated a huge step forward in its development. The country officially started the Ogaden Natural Gas Project in the Somali region. This project is not just about gas; it’s about creating electricity, helping farmers, and even supporting new technology like cryptocurrency.
Image by ENA
Phase One: Getting Started
The first part of the project can produce 111 million liters of natural gas every year. At the same time, work on the second part has begun, which could produce up to 1.33 billion liters per year once complete.
The project will also generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes. This electricity can help communities, businesses, and industries across the country.
A Big Investment for Ethiopia
The whole project, including gas, electricity, fertilizer, and other facilities, is worth about $10 billion. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said it’s part of a bigger plan to grow Ethiopia’s economy, create jobs, and improve the lives of its people.
The Ogaden project is more than a gas plant. It is a game-changer for Ethiopia:
- It will provide energy for homes and businesses.
- It will support farmers and food security.
- It will attract technology investments.
Helping Farmers with Fertilizer
Natural gas from the project will be used to make fertilizer. Fertilizer helps farmers grow more crops, which improves food supply and supports food security. This means more crops for people to eat and less reliance on importing fertilizer from other countries.
Supporting Technology
The project will also make cheap and reliable electricity available for cryptocurrency mining and data centers. This could attract technology businesses and help Ethiopia join the global digital economy.
Ethiopia is showing the world how natural resources can be used not just for profit, but to build a stronger, more self-reliant country.
