Overview

Vision 2030 states that:

“….. Energy is one of the infrastructural enablers of the three “pillars” of Vision 2030……. "

The challenges facing the power sub-sector include:

1. A weak power transmission and distribution infrastructure,
2. High cost of power,
3. Low per capita power consumption and low countrywide electricity access.

 
KETRACO will construct over 4,000 km. of high voltage transmission infrastructure comprising of lines, switch gears and sub-stations across the country over the next 3-4 years, at an estimated cost of US $ 1,300 Million. This will open up geographical areas without access to the national grid, enhance capacity for evacuating power from planned generating plants and build inter-connectors to facilitate regional power trade with neighbouring countries.
These transmission lines and associated sub-stations will be financed by the exchequer, development partners, internally-generated revenue, financial institutions and public-private partnerships (PPPs). Management of resources will be guided by operational rationalization and modernization of key processes, while cost saving measures will be deployed to strengthen the Company’s financial resource base.
 

The transmission line projects will include:

1. 1500 kilometers of  132kV lines;
2. 700 kilometers of 220kV lines;
3. 1,000 km 400kV lines; and 
4. 700 kilometers of  500kV lines.

Electricity Scale-up Projects

1.  Increase access to electricity
2. Increase customer connectivity
3. Upgrade the power lines where present voltages are low
4. Reduce technical losses
5. Improve quality of supply 

They incorporate the following lines:

 Major Projects

The objectives of the major projects are to:

1. Evacuate electricity from generating stations
2. Reinforce the grid network for increased capacity, reliability and provide redundancy
3. Interconnect with neighbouring countries

They include:

 Regional Power Interconnections

The purpose of regional power interconnectors is to:-

       1.   Access cheaper power from neighbouring countries.

Ethiopian electricity will cost approx. US 5 cents as compared to new plants in Kenya that cost above US 10 cents

      2.   Export power to the neighbouring countries.

Power potential: 

• Geothermal - 7000MW
• Wind - 4000MW
• Ethiopian - 2000MW
• Sudan - 1000MW

      3.   Increase system reliability

• Reduced chances of national loss of power
• Alternative sources will increase power stability
• A larger power grid will enable connection to many green power sources

Regional Interconnectors include:

 Kenya map of proposed transmission network