19 June 2013 - The World Bank has contributed US$6 million for Djibouti to further its geothermal potential. The funds will support Djibouti in assessing the commercial viability of the geothermal resource in the Fiale Caldera area within the Lake Assal region.
"Djibouti is located in the active East African Rift tectonic region which has a high potential for geothermal, an inexpensive, clean, reliable and renewable way of producing electricity," Ilhem Salamon, World Bank project team leader, says. "Unlike wind or solar which are intermittent sources of energy, geothermal energy can be available at any moment. Developing this rich resource could allow Djibouti to function almost entirely on clean and affordable energy and foster private sector participation in the sector."