Addis Ababa: The Ministry of Water and Energy announced significant progress in expanding access to clean drinking water nationwide. The country's coverage rate has reached 69.52 percent. The announcement came during a discussion on the implementation of the ministry's performance of the just concluded fiscal year and the plan for current budget year. The Minister and stakeholders, including councilors, reviewed achievements and outlined future goals. On the occasion, State Minister for Water Resources Management, Abraha Adugna highlighted the positive developments in water access and sanitation. He credited the progress to numerous initiatives undertaken in the past budget year 2023/2024, particularly on water management, drinking water and sanitation, and energy development. "This year, over 4 million people gained access to clean drinking water, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 74.6 million," Abraha stated adding that 'This translates to a national clean water coverage rate of 69.52 perce nt." The State Minister elaborated on the ministry's success in safeguarding water resources, expanding access to clean water and sanitation, and promoting renewable energy use in both rural and urban areas. He emphasized the large-scale implementation of the "Dam at My Door" project, designed to collect rainwater and support drought-stricken regions. The discussion also addressed improvements in project management. He explained that previously fragmented efforts in water well drilling and pipeline construction are now being coordinated for faster service delivery. Engineer Kebede Genole, Head of the Sidama Region Water, Minerals, and Energy Bureau, shared regional accomplishments. He reported a rise in the region's water coverage to 60 percent and he further noted ongoing collaboration with Hawassa University to identify and implement broader water conservation strategies. Tajuddin Mohammed, Planning and Monitoring Director of the Oromia Water and Energy Bureau, on his behalf provided details on the re gion's water projects. He stated that over 9,600 water projects, constructed through a collaborative effort between the government and the public, have benefitted more than 2 million during the concluded fiscal year. Source: Ethiopian News Agency