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EAPP member states meet in Mombasa to advance talks on a regional electricity market
It also enables regions to integrate their power demands in a way that helps meet some of the aforementioned challenges by offering access to a broader mix and more stable supply of renewable energy resources over a wider geographic area.
By Monica MUEMA
Cabinet secretary (CS) for energy and petroleum Opiyo Wandayi has reiterated the need for strategic collaborations in advancing cross-border transmission and trade in energy among 13 member states ahead of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) regional trade conference next week in Mombasa.
The conference, being spearheaded by EAPP in partnership with the World Bank and the government of Kenya, will also see the launch of a centralised regional power market and brings together regulators, utilities, international experts, development partners, and regional stakeholders.
EAPP is a regional institution that coordinates cross-border power trade and grid interconnection among nations of the eastern Africa region including Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, the Seychelles, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Developing an efficient cross-border power market is anticipated to help with energy security, resource utilization, and the transition to sustainable energy systems, as well as boost countries in strengthening relationships and save costs through shared resources.
Currently, there is significant investment in transmission lines between countries and the region is soon set to transition from four synchronous areas into two synchronous areas – after the energization of the Egypt – Sudan interconnector (when Egypt and Sudan are synchronized following the installation of static var compensation on the Sudanese side of the network by the end of 2022, when the capacity will increase to 300 MW) and the Rwanda – Uganda interconnector by the end of 2021. Tanzania, on the completion of the Kenya – Tanzania interconnector (expected in 2023), will join the synchronized area with Kenya.
The 3 – day conference dubbed, will be held in Mombasa starting December 9 to 11 and will share best practices from other power pools and encourage greater coordination among EAPP stakeholders to further strengthen regional trade and coordination.
It brings together industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore the future of renewable energy in Kenya and beyond. Keynote speakers will cover topics such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy, as well as new technologies and investment opportunities.