Visiting Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed and President William Ruto on Wednesday made a familiarization tour of KETRACO Converter Suswa Substation, Kajiado County, which facilitates cross-border transfer of electricity between Kenya and Ethiopia.
The station, which President Ruto said will soon serve Tanzania through the 400kV Isinya Substation, is part of the Kenya-Ethiopia Electricity Highway Project geared towards integration of electricity markets to enhance reliability of supply and reduce the cost of power.
“Our special focus on expanded distribution of clean regional energy will boost commerce, check pollution and strengthen climate resilience,” President Ruto said.
The visit was part of the activities during PM Abiy’s state visit to Kenya.
Starting at the Wolayta Soddohe power plant, the transmission line stretches 437km on the Ethiopian side and 631km in Kenya, adding up to 1,068km long installation that ends at the Suswa substation.
The transmission line passes through Arba Minch, Konso, Brindar, Yabello and Mega in Ethiopia and Marsabit, Samburu, Isolo, Laikipia, Nyandarua, Nakuru, West of Seradupi, Wamba, Rumurutuli, Gilgil, East of Naivasha to Suswa.
The project was borne of the negotiations leading to the signing on July 2022 of 25-year Power Purchase Agreement by Ethiopian Electric Power and Kenya Power to facilitate supply of electricity to Kenya starting November 2022. The project had been approved in June 2011 by the African Development Bank.
The PPA stipulates that in the first three years of its implementation the importing party will receive a maximum firm capacity of 200 megawatts and in the remainder of the contract duration, the maximum firm capacity will be upscaled to 400MW.
