East Africa and Southern Africa Power Pool Link a Reality in 3 Years

• Last week at the Future Energy East Africa conference and exhibition, the Principal Secretary of Energyin Kenya, Mr. Joseph Njoroge announced that the high voltage lines linking Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania are expected to be ready in the next three years.
• Njoroge cited difficulties in land acquisition on some sections for putting up the lines as the main reason for the delays
• Completion of various high voltage lines will pave the way for conducting regional power trade.

“In the next two to three years we will be able to come up with a configuration that enhanced demand in terms of the region,” said Njoroge. The Uganda – Tanzania line will be 400KV while the Kenya – Ethiopia line will be 500KV. The Uganda line will extend to link Rwanda and Burundi.

The countries which are all part of the East African Community trade bloc except Ethiopia are also expected to trade electricity with Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zibwabwe through the Tanzania power line. This will effectively link the East African Power Pool with the Southern African Power Pool.

Author: Bryan Groenendaal