The Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) initiative will see formative progress after the launch of trial operations for the 500-kilometer transmission line in the Tanzania – Kenya Interconnection Project.
- The project will facilitate electricity exchange between the two East African countries by connecting the Isinya substation in Kajiado county with Arusha in Northern Tanzania.
- The Kenyan line will further extend north to Ethiopia while the Tanzanian line will extend southward to Zambia.
- The initiative will integrate the region’s power infrastructure enabling low-cost energy trading and stabilisation of the grid amidst rising demand for electricity.
“As policy makers, it is our duty to create an enabling environment for this market to thrive. This includes fostering a culture of cooperation, addressing any bottlenecks in the regulatory or technical frameworks, and ensuring that our national priorities align with regional goals,” Opiyo Wandayi said.
During the three-day Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) Regional Power Trade Conference held in Mombasa, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said that the initiative will promote a centralized market for the region’s energy producers promoting competitiveness.
The project is set to harness the regional vivacity for renewable energy. Tanzania’s line in the pool will rely on electricity produced by the Julius Nyerere HydroPower Project (JNHPP) – which has a capacity of over 2,000 mW. Dar intends to export surplus power to countries like Burundi, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Malawi – with new transmission lines set to be constructed.
A 1,045-kilometre line runs between Wolayta-Sodo in Ethiopia and Suswa in Kenya – further connected to the Isinya substation. The 500Kv high voltage direct current transmission line facilitates Kenya’s importation of 200 mW of electricity from Addis Ababa.
Kenya and Uganda are interconnected by the 132-kilometre power line between Lessos and Tororo. It enables the sharing of up to 1,200 mW of electricity from the Lessos substation to Tororo substation.
“By championing the benefits of regional integration, lower costs, enhanced resilience, and accelerated renewable energy development, we can inspire the collective action needed for sustainable progress,” Okasai Opolot, chairperson of the regional council of energy ministers, said.
Plans are underway to introduce an Independent Regulatory Board (IRB) that will co-ordinate the shared grids and create an elaborate pricing system that will actualise the intended advantages of the project.
“The existence of a strong regional regulator is paramount for increasing transparency and trust,” Wandayi said.
The Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) will benefit Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, DR Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Somalia, Rwanda and Libya.
“The EAPP power market is designed for adaptability, accommodating national differences and aligned with international standards, ” EAPP Secretary General James Wahogo said.
