Ready, Set, Go for East African Power Pool

Six East African countries are teaming up to create a power pool to further the renewable energy sector. The African Development Bank has agreed to invest in a study that is expected to cost €1.7 million in order to establish the estimated $1 billion project.

The countries will combine their power generation sources in an order to combat energy shortages. Surplus countries – like Ethiopia and Sudan – will supply energy sources to countries less fortunate like Kenya and Rwanda. For instance, Kenya needs to inject 1,000 MW of additional power into the national grid within five years, but it has been riddled with problems securing financing in order to build new power plants.

“We are planning a transmission line connecting southern Ethiopia and Mt Longonot to tap 500MW of hydro power. We are also in talks to tap power from the Southern African Power pool,” Kiraitu Murungi, the Energy minister, told investors attending the Euromoney conference in Nairobi.

Currently, the ministry is looking for private investors to construct three dams in Tana River with capacities to produce 140MW, 60 MW and 70 MW respectively. Funds are also being sought for the construction of a coal -handling facility at the Port of Mombasa.

In an interview with Alternative Energy Africa, Jeannot Boussougouth, Energy Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan said that while power pool projects can be beneficial, in order for power pools to be successful, at least one member country must enjoy excess capacity and energy infrastructures should be at an acceptable level.