Preparation of the Abaya project for Geothermal Sustainability Assessment Protocol (GSAP) in Ethiopia

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to assess the Abaya Geothermal Development Project in Southern Ethiopia using the Draft Geothermal Sustainability Assessment Protocol (GSAP). The Abaya project is being developed by Reykjavik Geothermal and there are plans for the installation of a 300 MW geothermal power plant with prospects for future expansion. The GSAP, adapted from the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, provides a comprehensive framework designed to evaluate geothermal projects across various environmental, social, and technical criteria.
This assessment, conducted collaboratively with Reykjavik Geothermal management, focused on evaluating the GSAP's suitability within the Ethiopian context, given the region's unique socio-economic and regulatory conditions. The project was evaluated on six crucial sustainability dimensions, achieving basic good practice (Level 3) on five topics, while one topic scored slightly lower (Level 2), highlighting specific improvement needs.
The findings confirm that GSAP is highly applicable to the Ethiopian setting, demonstrating significant potential for guiding future geothermal projects towards international standards of sustainability. The protocol effectively facilitates stakeholder engagement, ensuring environmental and social considerations are adequately addressed, thereby enhancing community support and long-term project viability. The results underscore GSAP's importance as an essential tool for sustainable geothermal resource management and development in Ethiopia.