Lion Bank
Dashen Bank
Dashen Bank
FORTUNE+ VIDEO JOBS SPONSORED CONTENTS FORTUNE AUDIO TRADE AFRICA new

Fortune Logo

Kenya-Ethiopia Electricity Interconnection Reaches Testing Stage

The 500kV line has a capacity of carrying up to 2,000 megawatts and is 1,055Km long

September 28 , 2019
By YOSEPH MERGU ( FORTUNE STAFF WRITER )

Built by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology (CET), the project connects the Kenyan and Ethiopian power grids.

The Ethiopian part of the 1.26-billion-dollar Eastern Electricity Highway Project that connects Ethiopia with Kenya is set to be completed next month.

Built by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology (CET), the project connects the Kenyan and Ethiopian power grids.

The high voltage electric line, which is a result of the joint venture of the two countries, has a capacity of carrying up to 2,000 megawatts and covers 1,055Km, while 433Km of the total electric highway lies within Ethiopian borders.

The construction of the power transmission line has already been completed in August 2019, and the highway is only awaiting finalisation of the construction of a substation, according to Moges Mekonnen, communication director of Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP).


After the construction of the substation is completed, the testing will be implemented within five months, and the highway will be ready for power transmission by April 2020.

Wolayta Sodo is the starting point for the 500kV line, and the overhead transmission lines are supported by approximately 38m-high and 15m-wide steel towers and sit on 4m-deep reinforced concrete foundations. The width of the line corridor ranges between 50m and 60m.


From the overall investment in the project, the World Bank provided a loan of 684 million dollars, while the African Development Bank and the French Development Agency are providing 338 million dollars and 118 million dollars, respectively.

The government of Ethiopia and the government of Kenya funded 32 million dollars and 88 million dollars, respectively.


The construction of the remaining part of the highway in Kenya is being carried out by the German company Siemens Transmission & Distribution. The work has begun from the Suswa substation in western Kenya.

Upon its completion, the project is expected to generate investment opportunities in electricity infrastructure and also gives rise to the development of other related industries.

Ethiopia currently generates 4,300MW of power, of which 90pc is produced from hydropower, while eight percent is generated from wind, and two percent is generated from thermal sources.

Ethiopia is endowed with a huge hydro generation potential, which is estimated at approximately 45,000 MW.


A hydropower expert appreciated the construction of the transmission line between the two countries.

“Construction of the transmission line is important, not only to sell but also to buy electric power when we face a shortage of supply,” Tigabu Atalo, an energy practitioner, told Fortune.

According to the expert, this is helpful for regional integration and interconnecting African countries through power.

“We must be well advised on the power purchase agreement schedule for the delivery of electricity, penalties for under-delivery and on tariff allocation.

Currently, the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) being built on the Abay River in Benshangul Gumuz Regional State has reached 68.3pc completion.


PUBLISHED ON Sep 28,2019 [ VOL 20 , NO 1013]

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.



Related Posts

Put your comments here


Editors' Pick

Agenda

Is the Coffee Bonanza Here to Stay?

July 2 , 2022 . By RUTH TAYE

On a rainy afternoon last week, a coffee processing facility in the capital's Akaki-Qality District was abuzz with activ...

Editorial

Financial Sector-sourced Glucose Drips No Remedy to Save Economy

November 27 , 2021

Against my will, I have witnessed the most terrible defeat of reason and the most sa...

Editorial

Contingency Economic Plan Necessary to Reconcile with Political Storm

November 13 , 2021

Plans and reality do not always gel. They rarely do in a fast-moving world. Every act...

Agenda

Banks Miss Deadline, Mergers Prove Unattainable

October 16 , 2021 . By HAWI DADHI

Residing in a country with no capital market, an organised marketplace for trading se...

Commentaries

Without Surety, Construction Industry Will Collapse

As the Ethiopian insurance industry is challenged by contractors who fail to perform...

The Sting of Climate Risk's in the Tails

Scientists have longed warned that climate change will adversely affect weather patte...

Fineline

Leaders of the National . . .

Leaders of the National Election Board are in a charm offensive mood, of a sort. Last week, they organised a rare tour for members of the me...

When the country’s most. . .

When the country's most senior diplomats and envoys return back to their posts after two-week debriefings, they leave behind a point or two...

Editorial

Why Ethiopia's Economy Catches Cold When Europe Sneezes

September 24 , 2022

Look no further than the flower industry to appreciate the importance of the European...

Long Overdue Finance Sector Opening Not Silver Bullet

September 17 , 2022

The debate shortly after the Council of Ministers nodded a bill to open the financial...

Export Performance Seems Impressive. Details Say Otherwise

September 10 , 2022

Ethiopia's policymakers and wonks began planning the economy and directing its course...

The War's Tragic Resumption. Not Too Late to Stop It.

September 3 , 2022

The late American President, Ronald Reagan, went back after 50 years to a college in...

Gallery

Parliament Approves New Cabinet Members

October 6 , 2021

Parliament Approves New Cabinet, Incorporates Opposition Leaders Lawmakers have approved today the nominations of 22 ministers, including three opposition leaders. Two MPs have voted against, while 12 abstained...

2020 in Posterity

January 5 , 2021

TIGRAY VOTES DESPITE "NULL & VOID" THREAT

September 9 , 2020

IN-PICTURE: LAUREATE'S RECEPTION  

December 14 , 2019

PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at a Gala Dinner Called for the Awarding of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize

May 6 , 2019

Faces, Voices of Addis Abeba

April 26 , 2019

Sunday With Eden

The Hardest Act to Forgive, and Yet Forgiven

As we navigate life, being hurt by others is inevitable. Often, we find ourselves in...

Somethings Must Come between Friendships

I recently received a call from a friend that lives abroad. Although we had been frie...

Life Matters

Consumed by Cosmetics

The enormous amount of money generated by the beauty industry amazes me. How we, as consumers, take the words of producers for granted and t...

Egotism Brings the Worst Out of People

We meet various people across our lifetimes. Some are outgoing and opinionated; others are humble and dow...