The Nile Basin Initiative/Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NBI/NELSAP), which conceptualized and promoted the Interconnection of Electric Grids Project, received additional funding of Euro 2.0 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) mobilized from the European Union Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-AITF) to support Consultancy Services for two studies. The Power Network Analysis and the Regional Guidelines studies are crucial for the physical and commercial operationalization of the NELSAP integrated grid system.
The AfDB in collaboration with other Development Partners including the European Union, the Government of the Netherlands, KFW and JICA has been instrumental in supporting NELSAP Interconnection of Electric Grids project. The Protocol Financing Agreement for the additional funds was signed on 26th October 2015 at the NELSAP offices in Kigali, Rwanda, by Mr. John Nyaoro, the NBI Executive Director and Mr. Makonnen Negatu, the AfDB Resident Representative to Rwanda. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Ambassador Michael Ryan, the Head of Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Rwanda, Eng. Elicad Nyabeeya the NELSAP Regional Coordinator and officials from the Rwanda Government.
The Interconnection of Electric Grids project consists of six (6) interconnectors under implementation covering Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Upon completion, the project will deliver 946 km of 220 and 400 kilovolt transmission lines and 17 associated substations in the five countries at a total cost of USD 415 million: AfDB (USD 198M), JICA (USD 55M), Government of the Netherlands (USD39.3M), Federal Republic of Germany (USD 92.5M), and EU (USD 29.72M).
The realization of the NELSAP Interconnection of Electric Grids Project will have huge economic implication in the entire East African region. For the first time, countries will have the opportunity to purchase low cost surplus power from across several borders and wheel it through several countries to their national customers. An integrated grid system will promote regional power infrastructure planning and joint implementation of energy projects, which in turn will further reduce the overall production cost of energy in the region, enhance utilities operational and management efficiencies, and encourage development of the vast, and huge renewable energy resources which would not be economical if implemented entirely to meet national demand. The European Union Euro 2 million grant, channeled through the African Development Bank, will therefore contribute to the realization of an integrated grid system in the Nile Equatorial Lake Countries.
In line with its founding mandate - to contribute to the social economic development of the Nile Equatorial Lakes countries, the NBI/NELSAP with the support of Development Partners has played a catalytic role in facilitating preparation of cross-border regional projects, resource mobilisation, and provides project implementation coordination and technical oversight on behalf of the member countries.
