Eastern Africa Power Pool

Collaborative association of eleven East African countries, headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Eastern Africa Power PoolEAPP

Electricity Grid Interconnection Organization overview
Formed| February 24, 2005; 20 years ago (2005-02-24)
Type| Electric Energy Grid Interconnection Agency
Jurisdiction| Eleven Eastern African Countries
Headquarters| Wereda 02, House 059, Bole Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Electricity Grid Interconnection Organization executive|

* James Wahogo,  Secretary General

Website| eappool.org

The Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), is a collaborative effort by eleven countries in Eastern Africa to interconnect their electricity grids and take advantage of excess capacity within the network and facilitate trade of electric power between the members.[1]

## Location

[edit]

The secretariat of the Eastern Africa Power Pool organisation is located at Wereda 02, House 059, Bole Sub City, in Addis Ababa, the capital and largest city of Ethiopia.[2]

## History

[edit]

In February 2005, seven countries in the Eastern African region came together because they saw mutual benefit in having one power pool. The original countries were, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Sudan. Later, Tanzania (2010), Libya (2011), Djibouti and Uganda (2012) joined the pool.[1][3]

The objectives of the Eastern Africa Power Pool include (a) the reduction of power costs within the region (b) facilitation of power trade between the members (c) increasing energy availability to citizens of member countries (d) increase the grid security of the member countries.[3]

As a prerequisite to the success of these efforts, power grid interconnections between the member countries need to be established. Such interconnections include the interconnection between Ethiopia and Kenya via the Sodo–Moyale–Suswa High Voltage Power Line[4][5]

Other such linkages are the Bujagali–Tororo–Lessos High Voltage Power Line, between Uganda and Kenya,[6] the Isinya–Singida High Voltage Power Line, between Kenya and Tanzania,[7] the Kawanda–Birembo High Voltage Power Line, between Uganda and Rwanda,[8] the Nkenda–Mpondwe–Beni High Voltage Power Line, between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[9][10] and the Karuma–Juba High Voltage Power Line between Uganda and South Sudan.[11] In 2022, construction work began on the Kigoma–Butare–Ngozi–Gitega High Voltage Power Line to connect the electricity grid of Rwanda and Burundi.[12]

## Pool capacity

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The table below, outlines the installed capacity, peak demand and the excess capacity or deficit for each of the eleven countries in the Eastern Africa Power Pool, as of June 2019.

Members and capacities of countries in the Eastern Africa Power Pool  Country | Installed Capacity (MW) | Peak Demand (MW) | Surplus (MW) | Deficit (MW)

|
|
|
|

Burundi | 50[13] | 100[14] |  | 50
Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2,677[15] | 4,977 |  | 1,300[16]
Djibouti | 126[17] | 206[18] |  | 80[18]
Egypt | 45,192[19] | 30,400[19] | 14,792 |
Ethiopia | 4,206[20] | 3,700[20] | 506 |
Kenya | 2,711[21][22] | 1,640[21] | 1,071 |
Libya | 10,238[23] |  |  |
Rwanda | 218[24] | 231[20] |  | 13[20]
Sudan | 3,736[25] | 3,000[26] | 736 |
South Sudan | 131[27] | 300[27] |  | 169[27]
Tanzania | 1,513[21] | 1,998[21] |  | 485[21]
Uganda | 1,177[28] | 724[29] | 453 |

## Member utility companies

[edit]

The member countries of the Eastern Africa Power Pool and their respective electricity utility companies are listed in the table below.

Country  | Electric utility

|

Burundi | Régie de Production et de Distribution de l'Eau et de l'Électricité (REGIDESO Burundi)[30]
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL)[31]
Djibouti | Electricité de Djibouti (EDD)[32]
Egypt | Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC)[33]
Ethiopia | Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP)[34]
Kenya | Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO)[35]
Libya | General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL)[36]
Rwanda | Rwanda Energy Group Limited (REG)[37]
Sudan | Sudanese Electricity Transmission Company (SETCO)[38]
South Sudan | South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC)[39]
Tanzania | Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO)[40]
Uganda | Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL)[41]

## Transactions

[edit]

Some of the transactions among EAPP member states include the following: In July 2022, Kenya signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Ethiopia, where the latter will sell 200 MW of electric power to the former starting 1 November 2022 for the first three years. Thereafter the amount sold will increase to 400 MW for the remaining 22 year of the contract.[42]

## Independent Regulatory Board

[edit]

The Independent Regulatory Board (IRB) is an organ of EAPP. The IRB is mandated to establish, monitor and coordinate trade in electricity between the member countries of the EAPP.[43]

Previously hosted at the EAPP in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the IRB was given more autonomy in 2012 and was allowed to exercise its independence. In May 2023, the Cabinet of Uganda approved hosting the headquarters of the IRB of the EAPP and granted it diplomatic status. The ERA of Uganda offered premises in Kampala for the IRB to rent.[43]

In December 2023, the African Development Bank approved a loan of US$5.4 million to equip the new headquarters. The World Bank also named the consultant to design the trading platform.[44]

## See also

[edit]

* Southern African Power Pool
* Central African Power Pool
* West African Power Pool
* North African Power Pool

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b EAPP (2016). "The Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP)". Addis Ababa: Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP). Retrieved 2 April 2019.
2. ^ EAPP (2016). "Eastern Africa Power Pool: Contacts". Eastern Africa Power Pool. Addis Ababa: Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP). Retrieved 2 April 2019.
3. ^ a b Safaa Hamed (March 2010). "About Eastern Africa Power Pool" (PDF). Washington, DC: United States Energy Association (USEA). Retrieved 2 April 2019.
4. ^ Omondi, George (8 May 2018). "Uhuru in deal to speed up Ethiopia-Kenya power line". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
5. ^ Olingo, Allan (6 August 2018). "Phase One of Regional Power Pool Project Set For Completion By Mid-2019". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
6. ^ Christabel Ligami (31 October 2015). "Kenya to sell power to Uganda". The EastAfrican. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
7. ^ "Kenya, Tanzania seek consultant for cross-border power lines". The EastAfrican Quoting Reuters. Nairobi, Kenya. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
8. ^ Nelson Wesonga (22 June 2016). "Plan to export Karuma excess power on". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
9. ^ Biryabarema, Elias (16 August 2017). "Uganda says signs deal with Congo to build $150 million power line". Reuters.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
10. ^ Stephen Otage, and Nelson Wesonga (4 October 2017). "Uganda to export electricity to South Sudan, DR Congo". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
11. ^ Baker Batte Lule (9 October 2019). "Uganda to supply electricity to South Sudan". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
12. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (1 August 2022). "Burundi/Rwanda: A power line will interconnect the two countries". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
13. ^ The World Bank (31 October 2011). "Burundi - Energy Efficiency Project" (PDF). Washington, DC: The World Bank. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
14. ^ Patrick Nduwimana (24 April 2014). "Word Bank to help fund hydro dams in power-starved Burundi". Reuters.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
15. ^ USAID (13 March 2019). "Power Africa Fact Sheet: Democratic Republic of the Congo". Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
16. ^ William Clowes (13 June 2018). "Congo to Start $13.9 Billion Hydropower Project This Year". New York City: Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
17. ^ USAID (21 March 2019). "Djibouti: Power Africa Fact Sheet". Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
18. ^ a b The World Bank (12 May 2017). "International Development Association Project Appraisal Document On A Proposed Credit In The Amount of US$23.3 Million For A Djibouti Sustainable Electrification Program" (PDF). Washington, DC: The World Bank. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
19. ^ a b Engineer Ahmed Abo Salem (2017). "Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy: Egyptian Holding Electricity Company: Egyptian Renewable Energy Plan" (PDF). Auptde.org. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
20. ^ a b c d Njiraini Muchira (1 April 2019). "EA states stuck with excess power after building billion-dollar plants". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
21. ^ a b c d e Halima Abdallah, and Njiraini Muchira (6 May 2019). "How Far Will Tariffs Fall As Kenya, Uganda Move To Share Power?". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
22. ^ Edwin Okoth (19 June 2019). "Ministry cuts power generation target by 2,800MW". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
23. ^ The World Bank (14 December 2017). "Supporting Electricity Sector Reform In Libya" (PDF). Washington, DC: The World Bank. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
24. ^ Rwanda Energy Group (January 2019). "Facts & Figures: Installed Generation capacity on the National Grid". Kigali: Rwanda Energy Group. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
25. ^ Index Mundi (20 January 2018). "Sudan Electricity: Installed Generating Capacity". Indexmundi.com Quoting CIA Factbook. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
26. ^ Dabanga Sudan Organization (4 January 2018). "Electricity tariff hike 'a death blow to Sudanese industry'". Khartoum: Dabangasudan.org. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
27. ^ a b c Jacob Manyuon Deng (17 January 2019). "Regional motivation to develop South Sudan's hydro power capacity". Rondebosch, South Africa: ESI-Africa.com. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
28. ^ Wandera, Julius (16 April 2019). "Uganda's Increased Electricity Generation". The Independent (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
29. ^ Electricity Regulatory Authority (2 April 2019). "Maximum Demand". Kampala: Electricity Regulatory Authority. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
30. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (16 March 2022). "Burundi: Tembo Power seeks partners for two run-of-river power plants". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
31. ^ Devex (7 June 2022). "Société Nationale d'Electricité (SNEL): DR Congo". Devex.com. Washington DC, United States. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
32. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (21 May 2020). "Djibouti: Government approves Engie's solar pv project in Grand Bara". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
33. ^ EuroAfrica Interconnector (7 June 2022). "Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC)". EuroAfrica Interconnector. Nicosia, Cyprus. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
34. ^ Devex (7 June 2022). "Ethiopian Electric Power(EEP)". Devex.com. Washington DC, United States. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
35. ^ Sam Kiplagat (2 November 2021). "Judge orders Ketraco to deposit Sh66m in land ownership case". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
36. ^ Abdulkader Assad (2 June 2022). "Libyan GECOL warns of damage to power grid if gas supply ceases". The Libya Observer. Tripoli, Libya. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
37. ^ Devex (7 June 2022). "Rwanda Energy Group Limited (REG)". Devex.com. Washington DC, United States. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
38. ^ Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (25 April 2019). "Construction of a 500 kV Transmission Ring Around Khartoum". Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. Kuwait City. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
39. ^ Kennedy Senelwa (23 February 2021). "South Sudan renews push to reduce power deficit". The EastAfrican. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
40. ^ Josephine Christopher (4 May 2022). "Local firms up in arms over Tanesco international tender". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
41. ^ Isaac Mufumba (7 May 2022). "UETCL back to drawing board after Shs1.5b loss". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
42. ^ Capital FM Kenya (28 July 2022). "Kenya Power Signs PPA With Ethiopian Electric Power". Capitalfm.co.ke. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 3 August 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
43. ^ a b ERA (1 June 2023). "Cabinet Approves ERA's Bid to Host the Independent Regulatory Board". Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA). Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
44. ^ Paul Adude (14 December 2023). "AfDB approves Shs20b for Eastern Africa Power Pool". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

## External links

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* East African Countries Will Have Electricity They Cannot Use, Unless They Focus on Their Transmission Infrastructure Now As at 28 June 2018.
* Sustainable Electricity Pricing for Tanzania

09°01′04″N 38°48′21″E﻿ / ﻿9.01778°N 38.80583°E﻿ / 9.01778; 38.80583
*[MW]: megawatts