Chinese company to set up Kenya-Ethiopia power link
A power substation. FILE PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI |
What you need to know:
- The 433 kilometres up to the Kenyan border on the Ethiopian side are fully financed by the AfDB.
- AfDB has also provided $118 million to the Kenyan Government for the project.
ADDIS ABABA
Ethiopian Electric Power, the State power generation agency, has signed a contract worth close to $119.3 million with China Electric Power & Equipment Technology Company (CET) to set up the Ethiopia–Kenya power transmission line.
The 433 kilometres up to the Kenyan border on the Ethiopian side are fully financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), which approved a total loan of $208 million in 2012.
“Considering the satisfactory performance of CET in other projects with us, we are confident that this contract will be completed within the 26 months allocated time,” said Azeb Asnake, chief executive of Ethiopian Electric Power, after signing the contract last week. The 500 kilo volt transmission line has a total length of 1,045 kilometres.
AfDB has also provided $118 million to the Kenyan Government for the project, while the French development agency has also agreed to finance other parts.
“…We realise that this will be of great significance for the power grids between Ethiopia and related countries. We will insist on high-quality construction and live up to the expectations of THE Ethiopian Government and have strong confidence to complete the project and fulfil the contract,” said Chen Wei, vice-president of CET.
The overall cost of the project, which includes two connector stations in each country, is estimated at $1.26 billion, Girma Mekuria, the senior energy officer at AfDB told the Nation.
