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Ethiopia seeks increased collaboration with Kenya on geothermal

Ethiopia seeks increased collaboration with Kenya on geothermal Olkaria I Geothermal Plant (Source: Toshiba Press Release)
Alexander Richter 4 Aug 2016

During a recent visit to Kenya, the Ethiopian PM promised more collaboration with Kenya on energy and geothermal.

At a visit to the Olkaria geothermal plant in Kenya, the Ethiopian Prime Minister has promised more collaboration with its neighbour Kenya.

For the two countries with the largest geothermal potential in Eastern Africa, a collaboration makes a lot of sense. As part of the Eastern Africa Power Pool, the power grids of at least nine countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Djibouti will be connected. It may also be extended to northern and southern Africa.

Also in the pipeline is the 500-kv transmission line connecting the Kenyan and Ethiopian grids, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2016 at a cost of up to $1.26 billion.

It would make Kenya, which has the region’s largest industrial base, the largest buyer of Ethiopian power at an eventual 400 MW, and could allow Ethiopia to export up to 1,600 MW to countries further afield.

Connecting East African countries, geothermal electricity produced by geothermal plants in Ethiopia and Kenya could soon power other countries as well.

Source: The Star