In order to improve access to electricity in NEL countries, NELSAP-CU is promoting increased cross-border sharing of energy and power. This year (2020), commissioning of the Uganda (Mbarara/Mirama)-Rwanda (Shango) power interconnection and synchronization of the interconnection between the electric grids of Burundi - DR Congo - Kenya - Rwanda - Uganda will take place. Initial power trading through the lines between Uganda and Rwanda is planned to commence in 2020 once the Rwanda – Uganda Interconnector is commissioned into operational service. On the Uganda side, construction of both the line and the Mbarara substation are complete and all facilities for interconnection with Rwanda are ready and the line has been energized up to the Rwanda border.
THE KENYA (LESSOS) - UGANDA (TORORO - BUJAGALI) OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINE
The electric grids of Kenya and Uganda are in synchronized operation, the same case is for Rwanda, Burundi and part of the Eastern D.R Congo at Ruzizi. The interconnection between Rwanda and Uganda was the missing link, whose commissioning will realize parallel operation of the electric grids of the five countries namely; Burundi, D.R Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
NELSAP-CU together with EAPP with support from USAID are working on modalities for preparation for coordinated and smooth synchronized operation of the interconnected grid system in the NEL. Key areas being addressed are protection schemes, interconnection switching operations, outage requests, fault detection and clearing, synchronization, telecommunications, dispatch/operational procedures, coordination of maintenance schedules and regional power trade as per the East Africa Power Pool (EAPP) Interconnection Code. In order to facilitate commissioning of this project and synchronization of the networks of the concerned countries, NELSAP-CU and the countries, together with the EAPP will put into place working groups that consist of planning, dispatching, protection and telecommunications engineers from Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda and from EAPP and NELSAP-CU.
These activities fall under the Interconnection of the Electric Grids of the Nile Equatorial Lakes Countries project that covers Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda and is being managed by NELSAP-CU on behalf of the countries. The project constitutes construction of 930km Overhead Transmission Lines with 17 substations. Implementation is on-going and is funded by AfDB, KfW, JICA, GON.
The goal of this project is to improve the living conditions of the peoples as well as economic development environment of countries through increased availability of affordable electric energy and increased cross-border sharing of energy and power in the NEL countries. Through this project, several transmission lines in the region were completed including The Rwanda - DR Congo transmission 220kV line which was commissioned into operation three years ago initially at 110kV.