Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) has completed and energised a 400kV transmission line linking Kenya and Tanzania, a major step toward enhancing electricity trade and regional economic integration in East Africa.

This new infrastructure is set to strengthen energy ties between the two nations, paving the way for increased power exchange and supporting broader regional energy and economic integration.

 The $309.26 million interconnector is part of the Eastern Electricity Highway, designed to facilitate power exchange across the region. Spanning 510 kilometres, the project included extending substations in Kenya and Tanzania, such as the Isinya and Singida substations, and constructing a new substation in Arusha.

Speaking during the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) conference which focused on strategies for energy integration, Ketraco Managing Director, John Mativo, highlighted key outcomes and benefits of regional integration.

“This regional interconnector will enhance the reliability of the interconnected power system, ensuring more sustainable and dependable electricity access. It will also create opportunities for large-scale, efficient renewable energy projects across the region, while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions by exporting affordable renewable power to countries reliant on fossil fuels,” he said.

Mativo added that the project will facilitate power exchange between Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, the Southern Africa Power Pool and Sudan and Egypt in the north as well as enhance access to cheap electricity through the East African power pool by economic merit order dispatch.

 On the Kenyan side, the initiative involved building a 96km 400kV line from Isinya to the Namanga border, funded by the Kenyan government and the African Development Bank at a combined cost of Kshs.4.9 billion. North China Power Engineering Company Limited served as the contractor.

 The energisation of the interconnector was achieved through collaboration between Ketraco, Kenya Power, and Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (Tanesco).

It comes at a pivotal moment, with 13 member states of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) set to launch cross-border energy trade in March 2025.

 The infrastructure also supports a Power Purchase Agreement between Ethiopia’s Electric Power (EEP) and Tanesco, which will see 100MW of power traded initially, increasing to 200MW within three years.