Ethiopia, Kenya agree to build power line via Sudan
Sept 25, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia and Kenya inked today an agreement to construct power-line to Sudan within the framework of the Ethiopia-Kenya Interconnection project.
The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) has announced the conclusion between Ethiopia and Kenya of an agreement allowing the construction of a transmission line to the Sudan.
EEPCo General Manager Mehiret Debebe said that the two countries had reviewed the progress of their cooperation in the project and the joint development of hydropower resources in Ethiopia, the state-run ENA reported.
A ministerial and technical meeting between Ethiopia and Kenya sought ways of finalizing a project consultant tender document, preparing financial proposal documents and identifying potential financers. The meeting also formed a technical committee and worked out preliminaries for entering physical construction, he indicated.
A body overseeing the project implementation has been designated in addition to selecting projects found most feasible for intercontinental power exports based on a master plan of the two countries, he said.
Ethiopian minister of Mines and Energy, Alemayhu Tegenu on his part said that Ethiopia is endowed with huge potentials of hydropower that are suitable for intercontinental hydropower markets. “The big hydropower sites located in the Nile Basin and Gibe-Omo Basins are true examples”.
Kenyan Energy Minster, Henry Obwocha on his part said that the supply of electricity would play significant role to speed up Kenyan economy.
Kenya would be working diligently to see to it that physical construction begins within the period of 18 months now, Obwocha said.
A general consultative meeting with international and continental financial institutions and donors would be held as part of securing the required funds for the project, he added.
(ENA/ST)