Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana To Pass Laws To Regulate Manufacturing & Importation Of Solar Systems-Kofi Agyarko
Ghana is in the process of passing legislations that would regulate the manufacturing and importation of solar systems in the country.
The solar industry is growing steadily in the West African nation with more companies and individuals investing in solar systems to generate electricity on their own.
However, the absence of legislations to regulate the solar industry to ensure that only quality solar systems are imported into the country is serving as a disincentive to people who may want to invest in solar systems.
It is in this regard that Ghana’s technical electricity regulator, the Energy Commission, has drafted regulations that would regulate the industry to insulate the market against substandard products.
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The regulations are focusing on three components of solar systems namely; solar panels, solar batteries and inverters.
Last week, the Energy Commission held a two-day stakeholder engagement with solar industry players in Accra, the capital of Ghana, to discuss the draft regulation.
The workshop provided an opportunity for the industry players to make input into the regulation.
The Energy Commission is expected to also engage the Subsidiary Legislation Committee in Parliament.
After a successful engagement with relevant stakeholders, the Commission would then, through the Energy Minister, put the draft regulations before Parliament for consideration and passage into laws.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the Energy Commission, Mr Kofi Adu Agyarko said the stakeholder engagement was one of the important requirements for getting the regulation in place.
He said the Commission would incorporate the views of the stakeholders and publish them in the media before they would be forwarded to Parliament for consideration.
He said consumers would be sensitised through the media.
He was hopeful that in less than a year, the regulation should come into force.
Mr Kofi Adu Agyarko expressed the belief that the passage of the regulation would go a long way to sanitize the solar industry.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Buhari Wants Senate To Approve US$6.14Billion Supplementary Budget For Fuel Subsidy
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly written to the Senate, seeking the approval of a supplementary budget which contains N2.557 trillion (US$6,147,764,416.00) meant to provide for subsidy on petroleum products from June to December 2022.
According to a report filed by Vanguard, President Buhari’s letter was read on Tuesday during plenary by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
The amount approved for subsidy on petroleum products from January to June was N443 billion and with the present request, the total amount stands at N3 trillion.
President Buhari has also written to the Senate, seeking a review of the Finance Act 2021.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Stop Tampering With Seals, Fuel Siphoning-NPA Boss To Tanker Drivers
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has advised petroleum tanker drivers to desist from tampering with seals on the truck and fuel siphoning on the way to their destination.
To ensure the integrity of petroleum products on Bulk Road Vehicles (tankers), the NPA has installed seals on all licenced tankers.
Sadly, some recalcitrant drivers have been tampering with the seals while on their way to discharge fuel to depots.
Interacting with executives of the Buipe Branch Tanker Drivers Union as part of his five regional tours of petroleum installations and other state institutions, Dr Abdul-Hamid said that there are more than 15 incidents of seal tampering on daily basis, a situation he said was very worrying.
On fuel siphoning, he said not only was the siphoning of fuel a loss to the government but it also endangered the lives and properties of Ghanaians in the event of a fire that sometimes results from such activities.
He referred to the fire incident at Kaase in the Ashanti Region, which he said investigations into that incident would be concluded this week and the culprits would be punished according to the law, he promised.
He urged the executives to support the fight and educate their members to desist from carrying out these criminal activities.
The Vice-Chairman of the Tanker Drivers Union, Nashiru Mohammed, on his part, said he would educate his members to conduct their activity according to the regulations.
He further appealed to the NPA’s Chief Executive to help boost the level of activities at the Buipe depot to increase their business.
The General Manager, Terminal and Transmission of BOST, Josiah Ato Kwamina said in the last two years, there have been some works done at the depot to expand the capacity and operations.
He said with their current facilities, they are ready for an increase in demand.
Ghana: Residents Of Damongo Flee As Fuel Tanker ExplodesSource: https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya Power To Lay Off Over 2000 Staff
Kenya’s power utility company has hinted at a major cost-cutting measure that would see about 2000 of its staff being laid off.
The company says it is implementing what it described as voluntary employee retirement (VER).
This plan is expected to save Kenya Power some Sh.1.54 billion.
The exercise will trim about 20 per cent of the entire workforce and would be carried out in three phases between May and June 2023 at a one-off cost of nearly Sh. 5.30 billion.
Once these employees are sent home, the national power provider will hire a fresh 830 younger, agile workforce at a cheaper cost.
Kenya Power estimates the cost of layoff and hiring new staff at Sh. 6.26 billion.
This will be funded in three equal phases in May, January 2023 and June 2023.
“The company, because of low attrition rate, has an ageing and expensive workforce resulting in staff cost growing at nearly twice the rate of revenue growth,” Acting Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Rosemary Oduor said as reported by the Kenyan media.
“In an environment where low operational costs and agility are critical requirements, productivity and quality of service have been negatively impacted.”
She added that “this calls for the company to put in place a human capital focused on a business sustainability plan that will enhance effective customer engagement, manage staff costs and infuse agility while at the same time managing knowledge transfer.”
According to Engineer Oduor, a majority of the 1,962 staff targeted in the upcoming sackings are artisans (571), technicians (180), engineers (155), clerks (151), drivers (138), craftsmen (131), commercial services officers (122), and meter readers (110).
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: TCN Takes Delivery Of 15 Brand New Power Transformers To Boost Power Supply
The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has taken delivery of fifteen brand new power transformers from the Apapa port, Lagos, earlier last week, energynewsafrica.com has learnt.
The transformers comprise ten 60MVA 132/33kV and five 150MVA 330/132kV capacity transformers delivered to TCN Central Store in Ojo, Lagos State, for onward delivery to various TCN project sites across the West African nation.
According to the Acting Managing Director/CEO of TCN, Engr Sule Abdulaziz, the contract for the supply of the transformers under the Nigerian Electricity Transmission Project (NETAP) was funded by the World Bank.
He, however, said TCN decides on the project site the transformers will be installed.
He informed that on installation and connection to the grid, the 10 60MVA 132/33kV power transformers and the five 150MVA 330/132kV transformers will add 637MW and 850MW respectively to the transmission network, consequently increasing the total capacity of the transmission system by 1487MW while ensuring N-1 reliability criteria in the substations, which is strategic in enhancing grid stability.
Engr Abdulaziz noted that earlier in August last year, the World Bank also funded transformer supply contracts which brought in ten 60MVA132/33kV transformers and twenty-five earthing transformers.
Out of the ten 60MVA transformers, five were installed in Karu and Gombe Substations, two are currently being installed in Kano, and one in Lagos State.
“This is the first time in the history of TCN that it took delivery of large numbers of transformers within a short period,” he said in a statement copied to energynewsafrica.com.
“These are milestone achievements for TCN, as it strives to implement its short-term development plan under the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion, and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP).
“The World Bank-sponsored NETAP project is only one of the TCN donor-funded projects aimed at expanding the transmission grid, while also prioritizing maintenance of the existing transmission infrastructures,” he said.
TCN is equally executing several projects funded by the Agence Français de Développement (AFD).
On the other hand, processes for projects funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) is progressing very fast and TCN will soon sign contracts for 330kV & 132kV Substations. Meanwhile, the procurement of consultants for projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will soon commence.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: AEDC Targets 180,000 Meters Installation
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) is set to reducing its metering gap with the installation of 180,000 meters as it resumed its Meter Assets Provider’s (MAPs) scheme.
The company also launched an online vending platform that allows electricity customers to buy energy directly from the company’s website rather than the various third-party vendors.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja last Tuesday, the chief technical officer, AEDC, Engr. Oluwafemi Zacchaeus explained that the relaunch of the MAP scheme was to bridge the meter demand gap after the completion of phase zero of the Federal Government’s National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
According to him, with the resumed MAPS scheme, willing customers will advance money to MAP/AEDC for the purchase of meters while they will be refunded through vending, after installation.
He disclosed that the MAPS framework will run till the commencement of the phase1 of the NMMP.
Zacchaeus stressed that it currently has six participating MAPS vendors- Mojec, Protogy, Turbo energy, Momas, CIG and Holley.
He noted that the AEDC is in the process of engaging more MAPs but added that only vendors with sufficient stock of meters in Nigeria will be considered.
The Technical Officer also stressed that in a bid to ensure constant availability of meters, each vendor has committed to supply 50,000 meters monthly in the Company stores across all its franchise areas.
Under the framework, AEDC is targeting a total of 135,000 single-phase and 45,000 three-phase meters going for N63,061.32 and N117,910.69 (VAT inclusive) respectively.
On his part, the company’s chief marketing officer, Donald Etim said the new vending platform was borne of the desire to create more access options for customers thus reducing the burden of additional costs.
He said with the platform, customers can now buy power directly from its website.
“With this platform, customers are not only assured of the elimination of extra charges such as service charge, commission and convenience fees, they are also assured of easy reconciliation of their account, 24/7 online real-time service, as well as instant value for the energy purchased from any part of its franchise area,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NPA To Ban Transporters Whose Truck Engage In Fuel Diversion
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has served notice to ban transporters whose fuel tanker will be caught engaging in fuel diversion.
According to Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who assumed the role of CEO of NPA some seven months ago, the Authority had been lenient in the past but said that this time around, there would be no room for such illegal activities to fester.
The NPA has installed trackers and seals on tankers that transport fuel from the various depots. However, some drivers manage to break the seal and divert fuel without reaching their intended destination.
Speaking during his visit to the BOST depot in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to end a five-day tour of the Northern Regions of Ghana, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said transporters whose tankers would be caught engaging in fuel diversion would be banned indefinitely.
“The loading of the products are done with the aid of technology but when tanker owners leave the BOST depot, instead of them going straight to wherever they are supposed to offload the product, they will go to certain unauthorised yards where they tamper with the seal of the Bulk Road Vehicles and siphon fuel. So now, we have to do real-time monitoring and by that action, immediately we see that a tanker truck is diverting, we will call the nearest police.”
Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has said his primary objective is to ensure that rules and regulations are adhered to by various players in the petroleum downstream industry.
Touching on the recent explosion at Kaase, which involved a fuel tanker, suggested to be engaging in fuel siphoning, he said the state security is investigating the case, saying the authority would soon let Ghanaians know the outcome of the investigation.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa’s Largest Renewable Energy Project Redstone CSP Achieves First Debt Draw Down
South African Redstone concentrated solar power (CSP) project has achieved its first debt drawdown on the largest renewable energy investment in South Africa to date.
The African Development Bank acted as the Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) and Coordinating Bank for the ZAR 11.6 billion(US$762,390,628.00) total investment, with a commitment of ZAR 2.306 billion to the transaction.
The project has also secured financing from leading international and South African financial institutions including ABSA Bank, CDC Group, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO) Investec Bank, Nedbank Limited, Sanlam Limited, and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa.
Redstone is led by ACWA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation, water desalination and hydrogen plants in 12 countries, which is also the lead shareholder in Redstone with co-shareholders including the Central Energy Fund, Pele Green Energy and the local community.
Located in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, the Redstone project will be equipped with a 12-hour thermal storage system that will deliver clean and reliable electricity to nearly 200,000 households round the clock.
The construction for the project is well underway and is currently in its ninth month of construction. The engineering works for the project is over 58% completed, whereas procurement and construction works stand at over 45% and 6% respectively. A key construction milestone, tower foundation for the project has been completed with the commencement of operations scheduled for Q4 2023.
Through the successful mobilization of international project finance, Redstone has facilitated approximately ZAR 7 billion in foreign direct investment to fund and support the strategic energy transition goals of the country.
Redstone CSP will offset an estimated 440 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year while also providing value-adding ancillary services to Eskom, and it is the first renewable energy project to offer ancillary services in the country. The project is certified under the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme and aligned with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement which seeks to limit global warming to under 2 degrees Celsius. In addition to efficiently delivering clean energy to the national grid, the Redstone project will offer tangible socioeconomic value through utilizing local supply chains and creating job opportunities: the project will reach close to 44% local content on procurement during the construction period; create more than 2,000 construction jobs at peak, with about 400 from the local community; and create approximately 100 permanent direct jobs during the operating period.
The strategic importance of this project was recognized by the South African National Energy Association (SANEA) who awarded ACWA Power with the “Leading the way in the energy sector” Prize in October 2021.
AfDB’s Vice President in charge of Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth Dr. Kevin Kariuki said: “Redstone will play an important role in South Africa’s decarbonization efforts. We are therefore pleased to have played such a prominent role in the project’s structuring and financing. Furthermore, the Bank looks forward to playing an even bigger part in supporting South Africa’s just energy transition by harnessing the abundant renewable sources of energy through innovative partnerships with the private sector.”
African Development Bank Director of Energy Financial Solution and Policy Regulations Wale Shonibare said: “This project marks a landmark project finance investment in South Africa and demonstrates the commercial viability of CSP technology in enhancing clean energy generation. Redstone’s capability to convert solar power into baseload energy at scale, aligns with AfDB’s Climate Change & Green Growth Policy and Strategy of investing for clean and inclusive growth.”
The Bank’s Director General of the Southern African Region Leila Mokaddem said: “The African Development Bank is privileged and proud to play the MLA and Coordinating Bank’s role for this largest renewable project in South Africa alongside our partners ABSA, CDC, DBSA, DEG, FMO, Investec, Nedbank, and Sanlam, reflecting our shared objectives of supporting the energy transition to address the threat of climate change across Africa.”
South Africa Boosts Capacity For Electricity GenerationSource: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Security Agencies Chase Persons Behind Laying Wreaths Bearing BOST MD’s Name
Security agencies have begun investigations to identify persons behind the laying of wreaths which read: ‘Rest In Peace In advance’, Mr Edwin Provencal, Managing Director of BOST at the company’s head office at Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra, Ghana’s capital.
This portal understands that police officers from the Mamobi District were at the company’s head office last Wednesday for a briefing.
This portal can also confirm that National Security has also been informed about the incident.
The Managing Director and staff of the company were shocked last Monday when about ten wreaths, which read: ‘Rest In Peace In Advance, Mr Edwin Provencal’ were discovered at the entrance of the company’s head office.
The company had security personnel at post but the report suggested that none of them noticed the incident.
A statement issued by the Board Chairman, Mr Ekow Hackman stated that the incident has been reported to the appropriate security agencies for appropriate investigations to be conducted.
The statement called on both management and staff to remain calm and refrain from granting interviews to the media.
“Pending the outcome of the investigations, the board entreats the Management and staff of BOST to remain calm and to refrain from granting further interviews which may cast aspersions on any person or group either within or outside of BOST.
“The Board would like to use this opportunity to urge Management and staff of BOST to continue to work in harmony and remain focused on consolidating the gains the company has made in recent times,” the statement concluded.
Ghana: Kamal-Deen, Others Appointed Tema Oil Refinery Board MembersSource: https://energynewsafrica.com
Gabon: AMEA Power Plans 50MWp Solar Plant In Gabon
UAE independent power producer (IPP) Amea Power is currently in talks with Gabonese authorities to develop a 50MWp solar power plant in Oyem, the capital of Woleu-Ntem province in northern Gabon.
The group’s CEO Hussain Al Nowais, met with Carmen Ndaot, Gabon’s Minister for Investment Promotion, Public-Private Partnerships and the Improvement of the Business Environment in Libreville.
According to Gabonese reports, the plant would be sited about 7km from the city centre and near the province substation.
The plant is set to provide clean energy to households and industries in the provinces of Woleu-Ntem and Ogooué-Ivindo.
Amea Power, has completed several clean energy projects in the region.
Last year the company deployed a 50MWp solar PV plant in Togo.
The company also has operational projects in in Mali, Chad and Uganda.
26 Dead After Power Cable Collapsed In A MarketSource: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: ECG Gives Krobo Residents Two Years To Clear Over Four Years Bills
Residents of Kroboland in the Eastern Region of Ghana, whose electricity bills have accumulated for over four years, will be given two years to settle their indebtedness.
The Director for Customer Services at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Anokye Abrebrese gave the hint at a stakeholders’ engagement in Somanya on Wednesday, February 10, 2022.
Although residents of Kroboland owe ECG as far back as 2012, Mr Abrebrese said the power distribution company has decided to ring-fence the debts from 2012 to 2017.
He, however, said residents who are on both prepaid and postpaid meters will be made to pay for all the accumulated bills from January 2018 to date.
Mr Abrebrese explained that management decided to make it flexible for the residents to settle their indebtedness.
“We are giving our customers two years to pay their debts,” he said.
According to Mr Abrebrese, residents who can settle their debts at a go will be allowed to do so.
Touching on how residents can identify how much they owe over the past four years, Mr Abrebrese said ECG would issue them with statements of the amount of money they have ring-fenced from 2014 to 2017 and their electricity bills from 2018 to date.
He assured the residents that the billing would be done transparently.
Touching on the roadmap for the installation of prepaid meters in the area, Mr Abrebrese explained that per the ECG’s policy, all customers under Category ‘A’ districts of EC, which includes the Somanya District, in the country must have prepaid meters installed.
On his part, the Tema Regional General Manager for ECG, Ing Emmaneul Akinie noted that 3,007 postpaid meters in the Somanya district would be replaced with prepaid meters.
He said a survey conducted in the area revealed that some 414 meters have been installed but are yet to be captured in the system of ECG.
In addition to that, he said some 421 faulty meters have been detected in the Lower Manya District but were quick to say that 418 of them have been replaced with three yet to be replaced.
He assured the residents that all ECG offices in the area would soon begin full operation with plans far advanced to add another at Kpong.
Before the installation of the prepaid meters, Mrs Theresa Osabutey, who is a member of the ECG Communication Unit at the head office, said customers in the area would be sensitised on the use of the prepaid meters.
According to her, education would be carried out separately for traditional authorities, religious bodies and traders before the community as a whole.
She said the community members would also be educated through the mass media besides the aforementioned planned sensitisation programmes to re-echo issues.
Ghana: ECG Deploys Clou Smart Meters In Tema RegionSource: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Jerry Hinson To Be Named New TOR MD
Ghana’s premier refinery, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), is likely to name Jerry Kofi Hinson as its new Managing Director after barely eight months of being without a Managing Director.
Jerry Hinson, who is an executive director for Minecon, responsible for the oil and gas business unit, is being pencilled for the TOR MD post, energynewsafrica.com sources have revealed.
It would be recalled that Edward Boateng was reportedly appointed as the Managing Director of TOR after the then Managing Director, Francis Boateng, and his deputy, Ato Morrison, were dismissed by the Government of Ghana.
However, his appointment turned out to be false as this portal’s sources indicated that the supposed appointment was done on the blind side of His Excellency President Akufo-Addo.
The refinery is currently being managed by a three-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chaired by Ing. Norbert Anku.
Last week, a list of the new board members who are yet to be sworn into office was dropped on social media and published on several online portals including this portal.
This has since sparked anger among the staff of the refinery with some casting doubt about the possibility of TOR being revived.
Some of the workers have been making appeals to President Akufo-Addo to rope in the three-member Interim Management Committee since they have demonstrated capacity to turn around the refinery.
While all ears are waiting to hear the announcement of the new Managing Director of TOR, it is the hope of this portal that the new leadership would eschew corruption and bad practices and put the interest of the nation at heart.
Profile of Jerry Kofi Hinson
Jerry holds a BSc. Degree in Physics from KNUST; and MSc. Degree in Computer Science from the University of London.
Mr Jerry previously worked as a Petroleum Engineer with Royal Dutch Shell in both onshore and offshore environments.
With an international career spanning over 26 years, Mr Jerry held various Petroleum Engineering and Technical Management roles in Shell companies operating in the UK North Sea, Onshore Nigeria, Deep Offshore Nigeria and Shallow Offshore Cameroun.
He has a demonstrable track record in delivering large CAPEX projects in Onshore and Deep-Offshore environments, including Bonga, Soku and Shearwater Fields; and has good exposure to the UK and West Africa business environment, including regulatory and commercial elements. Mr Jerry has a wealth of expertise in Technical/Commercial Evaluation, Business Planning, Project Management, Asset Development, as well as Coaching & Development of Petroleum Engineering staff.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: PURC Sets Up Seven-Member Committee
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has inaugurated a seven-member external committee by Section 10 of the PURC Act, 1997 (ACT 538) to serve on three different committees.
Under the Act, the Commission may discharge its functions, appoint committees of the Commission comprising members of the Commission or non-members or both and assign to any such committee such as its functions as it may determine.
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The seven-member committee comprised Mr Kwaku Sarpong Manu, Mrs Vivienne Duker and Mr William Amuna who would serve on the Technical Committee, Mr John Addaquay and Mrs Gloria Duah-Sakyi, serving on the Stakeholder Management and Communication Committee while Mrs Mavis Amoah and Prof. Olivia Anku-Tsede would be on the Legal, Complaints and Dispute Resolution (LCDR) Committee.
The Board Chairman of PURC, Mr Ebo Quagrainie, who presided over the ceremony, in his remarks, assured the committee members of the current Commission’s objectivity in ensuring that stakeholders are properly served by the PURC’s mandate.
Ghana Inaugurates National Energy Transition CommitteeGiving them the oath of secrecy, he reminded them of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality and handling information they come across in the course of their work professionally. Mr Quagraine charged the members of the various committees to uphold integrity, objectivity, transparency and accountability by focusing on the mandate of serving all stakeholders interests. He further reminded them that they could be called to duty at any time in the interest of the Commission. The Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Ishmael Ackah thanked members of the Committees for accepting the onerous role. He urged them to embrace their call and do their jobs well while assuring them of management’s full support and cooperation. He emphasised the Commission’s critical role in ensuring that all stakeholders’ interests were met, and urged them to be firm, sincere and honest in their work. Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya, Ethiopia To Expedite $1.3Billion Power Peal
Two East Africa neigbours- Kenya and Ethiopia have agreed to speed up the delayed power purchase deal worth $1.3 billion that will see the former import 400 megawatts of power annually.
According a report by the Star Newspaper, an Ethiopian delegation led by Finance Minister Eyob Tekalign was in Nairobi last week for talks with Kenya’s Energy Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma.
The newspaper said the two delegations deliberated on previously signed Power Trade Agreements.
They agreed that the interconnection project is a mega-project whose benefits spread beyond Ethiopia and Kenya.
Tekalign said it was necessary to ensure that Ethiopia and Kenya fulfil the dreams and aspirations of both countries to see the entire region connected to electricity.
“The value of the interconnection of our power systems is key to powering our aspiration for fast growth,” said Juma as reported by the newspaper.
The system is an investment of $1.3 billion with a modern 500kV line, an important vehicle for East Africa interconnection and nucleus for regional integration and prosperity.
The Ethiopia-Kenya electricity transmission line is expected to integrate power systems of five countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda under the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) Master Plan.
The plan seeks to take advantage of excess capacity within the network and facilitate the trade of electricity between member countries.
26 Dead After Power Cable Collapsed In A Market
The power line has been on cards since 2012, with Ethiopia blaming Kenya for delays even after several lenders committed funds.
The World Bank approved $684 million (Sh77.2 billion) for the over 1,000-kilometer power line in 2012, allocating Kenya $441 million( Sh49.8 billion) and Ethiopia ($243 million or Sh27.4 billion ) in the first phase.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) followed suit, approving Sh29.2 billion financing deal for the project.
The lender allocated $232 million to Ethiopia and $116 million to Kenya for the transmission line linking East Africa’s economic powerhouse to the Gilgel Gibe III dam in southern Ethiopia.
Under a power purchase agreement, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) was to interconnect the national power grid to the Ethiopia Electricity Power Company by 2016.
This would have paved way for Kenya to import 400 megawatts of cheaper hydropower.
According to the plan, transmission costs between Moyale and Nairobi will provide an additional Sh2 a kilowatt-hour.
At a maximum of Sh9 a kilowatt-hour, the cost of hydroelectricity will still be lower than the current rate.
The talks on the PPA are being revived at the time Kenya is implementing changes in its energy sector after numerous cases of alleged mismanagement spanning several years.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com