Ketraco powers 400kv Kenya-Tanzania line, boosts electrical energy commerce

Ketraco powers 400kv Kenya-Tanzania line, boosts electrical energy commerce

Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) has accomplished and energised a 400kV transmission line linking Kenya and Tanzania, a serious step towards enhancing electrical energy commerce and regional financial integration in East Africa.

This new infrastructure is ready to strengthen vitality ties between the 2 nations, paving the best way for elevated energy alternate and supporting broader regional vitality and financial integration.

 The $309.26 million interconnector is a part of the Eastern Electricity Highway, designed to facilitate energy alternate throughout the area. Spanning 510 kilometres, the venture included extending substations in Kenya and Tanzania, such because the Isinya and Singida substations, and developing a brand new substation in Arusha.

Speaking in the course of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) convention which centered on methods for vitality integration, Ketraco Managing Director, John Mativo, highlighted key outcomes and advantages of regional integration.

“This regional interconnector will enhance the reliability of the interconnected power system, ensuring more sustainable and dependable electricity access. It will also create opportunities for large-scale, efficient renewable energy projects across the region, while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions by exporting affordable renewable power to countries reliant on fossil fuels,” he stated.

Mativo added that the venture will facilitate energy alternate between Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, the Southern Africa Power Pool and Sudan and Egypt within the north in addition to improve entry to low-cost electrical energy via the East African energy pool by financial benefit order dispatch.

 On the Kenyan facet, the initiative concerned constructing a 96km 400kV line from Isinya to the Namanga border, funded by the Kenyan authorities and the African Development Bank at a mixed value of Kshs.4.9 billion. North China Power Engineering Company Limited served because the contractor.

 The energisation of the interconnector was achieved via collaboration between Ketraco, Kenya Power, and Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (Tanesco).

It comes at a pivotal second, with 13 member states of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) set to launch cross-border vitality commerce in March 2025.

 The infrastructure additionally helps a Power Purchase Agreement between Ethiopia’s Electric Power (EEP) and Tanesco, which can see 100MW of energy traded initially, rising to 200MW inside three years.