Ethiopia, Kenya working on 500-Kilovolt power line

Addis Ababa, August 5, 2017 (FBC) – Ethiopia and Kenya have jointly become the first nations in the region to set up a 500-kilovolt power line.

The construction of the power line is ongoing, with high hopes that its benefits will far outweigh its cost over the long term.

According to the Daily Nation, the construction is handled by a Chinese firm – China Electric Power Equipment and Technology (CET).

Expected to cost 1.26 billion US dollars, the Ethiopia-Kenya power transmission line is financed by the African Development Bank.

It runs about 1045km, of which 445km is within Ethiopia’s territory and the rest in Kenya.

The 500 KV transmission line will have the transmitting capacity of 2,000 MW.

The transmission facility will initially supply 400MW, depending on the need, it will later be increased to 2000 MW that will facilitate power trade to other countries in the region.

Ethiopia and Kenya power interconnection project was conceived in 2016 when both countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to have a power interconnection system.

The project is expected to be concluded in September 2018.