African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a 26.1 million euros loan to construct an underground power transmission line as part of the Ethiopia-Kenya electricity highway to boost power supply at the Kenya’s Laikipia Airbase and surrounding areas.
The pan-African lender disclosed its review of the Kenya-Ethiopia electricity highway project, saying the 132 kilovolts underground cable network stretching 16.5 kilometres will link Nanyuki and Rumuruti substations in Kenya.
The substation, whose completion is targeted before the close of next year, is part of integrating the Ethiopia-Kenya Power Interconnection project as Kenya ramps up electricity imports from Ethiopia.
“Procurement activities have been completed and the contract signed. Preliminary design work is currently underway,” AfDB said in a review of the project.
Kenya sought the loan due to underestimation made on the feasibility study on power demand growth, an increase in electrification rate and generation capacity, resulting in an overrun of the initial project cost estimates.
Source: Daily Business Africa
