Kenya and Ethiopia are set to complete East Africa’s first High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) powerline. The Ethiopia Kenya Power Interconnector was conceived in 2006 when Ethiopia and Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding that allowed for the establishment of a power interconnection system between the two countries.
In August, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), held a groundbreaking for the transmission project which traverses a 263 km stretch of communally owned land across Marsabit County where the company will put up 13 community projects financed via the compensation for limited loss of land use.
The Ethiopia-Kenya Power Interconnector is partitioned into four lots and undertaken by a consortium of contractors made up of Germany’s Siemens for the Converter Station, KEC International of India (Lot 4), Larsen & Toubro of India (Lot 5) and Kalpataru Power Transmission of India (Lot 6).
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African Development Bank (AfDB) is funding the project jointly with the French Development Agency (AFD), the World Bank and the Government of Kenya at a cost of KShs. 42.5 billion. Upon its completion, the project is expected to generate investment opportunities in electricity infrastructure and also give rise to development of other related industries.
Ethiopia is endowed with a huge hydro generation potential which is estimated at approximately 45,000 MW.
The proposed transmission line right-of-way crosses from Ethiopia into Kenya approximately 90 km West of Moyale town and traverses Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Laikipia, Nyandarua and Nakuru.
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The project which is also known as the Eastern Electricity Highway Project is under the First Phase of the Eastern Africa Power Integration Program. According to powerline, 433km of the 1044km long interconnector will be in Ethiopia while the rest will be in Kenyan territory.
Exchange of electricity between the two countries is expected to commence once the construction of $629million separate converter station by the German company is concluded in 2019. The total cost of the project is estimated to reach $1 billion, with funding from Africa Development Bank. Once complete the line will be a major channel for outbound transmission from Ethiopia.
According to Siemens, HVDC transmission typically features 30 to 50 percent lower transmission losses than comparable HVAC (high-voltage alternating-current) overhead lines. It can also carry 30 to 40 percent more power given the same right of way.
The China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Company Limited is overseeing the construction of the 500Kv HVDC transmission line. The World Bank expects the project to be completed by June 30, 2019.
