NELSAP-CU has received funding from the African Development Bank to conduct updated feasibility studies of the 352.2 km D.R Congo-Uganda power interconnection. The updated feasibility covers engineering design, tender documents preparation, environmental, social impact assessment (ESIA) and resettlement action plan (RAP) for the D.R Congo (Beni-Bunia-Butembo) – Uganda (Nkenda) power interconnection. This funding is for updating the feasibility study of the 352.2 kilometres of Overhead Transmission Line (OHTL) at 220KV (400kV) to connect the Eastern part of DR Congo to the Uganda power grid. The D.R Congo portion of the interconnector line will be 279.7 kilometres while the Uganda portion will be 72.5 kilometres and will include four substations (at Beni, Bunia and Butembo in D.R Congo and at Nkenda in Uganda) together with telecommunication systems and rural electrification in the D.R Congo sections.
This funding by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under NEPAD-IPPF window to the tune of USD 0.925 Million was availed to NELSAP in March 2020 and the study is expected to run for 14 months. The feasibility study will be conducted by NELSAP-CU in consultation with Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL) of the D.R Congo and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). D.R Congo and Uganda will provide USD 0.065 million as counterpart contributions.
As a precursor to this feasibility, NELSAP facilitated signing of an M.O.U between the Ministers in charge of Energy affairs of D.R Congo and Uganda in August 2017 in Kinshasa for this transmission line and for future energy projects.
The M.O.U signed by Hon. Ingele Ifoto, Minister of Energy D.R Congo and Hon. Eng. Irene Muloni, the Minister of Energy of Uganda established a framework of cooperation between D.R Congo and Uganda to enable joint development and implementation of energy projects, trade and exchange of electric power. Through the M.O.U the countries mandated NELSAP-CU to mobilize funds and coordinate physical
implementation of the interconnection on behalf of the countries and facilitate other future cross-border investments in the energy sector.
The D.R Congo - Uganda interconnection project will contribute to the socio-economic development of the populations of the two countries through improved electricity provision, electrification of eligible communities along the line route, thanks to the Rural Electrification component and job creation for both women and the youth during the construction and operation of the line and will increase cross-border trade of energy and power between the two countries.This project is related to the on-going Interconnection of Electric Grids of the Nile Equatorial Lakes (NEL) Countries project which is a 931km, 220kV project that interconnects the power grids of five countries (Burundi, D.R Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda) and will have 17 substations. The interconnection of the NEL power grids project is also coordinated by NELSAP-CU on behalf of the country.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has also financed a similar project, the Goma - Buhandahanda interconnection in the DR Congo, which is a 95km, 220kV line that interconnects with Ruzizi III Power Project. This project is also coordinated by NELSAP-CU on behalf of the countries.