Ethiopia's parliament has approved a World Bank loan worth $145.8 million to fund an upgrade of the electricity grid in Addis Ababa, according to Birr Metrics.
The outlet reported the approval on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, placing the loan at the center of planned work on the capital's power infrastructure.
Birr Metrics did not detail how the money will be spent or set out a timeline for the construction. It also did not say which parts of the grid are slated for improvement or how the loan will be repaid.
The decision puts a multilateral lender's financing behind the electricity network that serves Ethiopia's largest city and its seat of government. Addis Ababa's grid carries power to households, businesses and public institutions, making its reliability a recurring concern for the capital.
The World Bank has previously supported infrastructure programs in Ethiopia, though Birr Metrics' report did not compare this loan with earlier commitments or state whether other financiers are involved.
Approval by lawmakers is a procedural step that clears the way for the funds to be released, but the reporting did not specify when disbursement would begin or which agency will manage the project.
What to watch next: whether Ethiopian authorities or the World Bank publish the project's scope, cost breakdown and construction schedule.
