The region might not meet the 2014 deadline for the completion of a major electricity project after Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo adopted a sluggish pace in implementing their phases of the project.By Macharia Kamau
Analysts now say that the delay might hold back the completion of the project supposed to link the national electricity grids of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo by 2014.
An assessment on the progress made by five countries in the region showed that Kenya and DRC had barely started on procedures required to see the project take off.
The Sh36 billion ($397 million) electricity transmission line is a project of the Nile Basin Initiative, and is expected to advance regional trade in electricity. It is, in turn, expected to bridge the shortfall in power experienced in some of the countries, including Kenya, where peak demand outstrips available power generation capacity. It is also expected to foster investments in power generation in countries that have massive, but unexploited, electricity generation capacity.
Kenya is supposed to put up a 130km 220 kilovolts line between Lesos in Nandi County to Tororo in Uganda, and then link with a similar line to Jinja. The line to Jinja is being constructed by Uganda.
The Lesos-Jinja line is expected to cost Sh12.6 billion. The line will further extend to Rwanda, Burundi, and on to DRC. Each country is expected to construct the transmission lines within its boundaries.
Kenya and DRC are, however, still in the planning stages, with Kenya yet to complete design for the transmission line. The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company – the implementing Government agency – currently has consultancy firm RSW International of Canada on the ground doing the design for the line.
On the other hand
This is unlike Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda that have already embarked on the construction works of the line, having recently hired contractors who are already on site.
Jason Oyugi, the lead consultant in the assessment undertaken in the five countries between June and August, said Kenya is yet to meet the basics for the project to take off. These include meeting conditions set by financial institutions before they can release money for the project.
He presented the findings of the assessment yesterday at a two-day forum held in Kampala, Uganda to discuss the progress on Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme Power Programme, being implemented by the Nile Basin Discourse.
African Development Bank, Japan International Co-operation Agency, and the Governments of Germany and the Netherlands are among the financiers.
The Kenyan chapter of the Nile Basin Discourse said despite the importance of the transmission line – in terms of opening up trade in electricity as well as increased access to electricity in parts of Rift Valley and western Kenya – Government agencies were non-committal on moving the project forward.
Daniel Nyabera, the national co-ordinator of the Kenya Nile Basin Discourse says State actors seem disinterested in the project.
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