Interconnection of the electric grids of the Nile Equatorial Lakes countries

The project aims to improve the infrastructure for interconnection of the electricity grids of the NEL countries in order to increase cross-border exchange of electricity between them. The project consists of the construction of 946 km of 220/400 kV power transmission lines and 17 power substations. The cross-border transmission lines are the following: 260 km Bujagali-Lessos (Uganda-Kenya); 172 km Mbarara-Mirama-Shango (Uganda-Rwanda); 293 km Buhandahanda-Goma-Gisenyi-Kibuye-Shango (DR Congo-Rwanda); 78 km Kamanyora-Bujumbura (DR Congo-Burundi); and 143 km Kigoma-Butare-Ngozi-Gitega (Rwanda-Burundi). The increased availability of electricity in the NEL region is expected to have immediate positive impacts on the competitiveness of investments in the productive sectors of the economy of the countries, in addition to the broader impacts on the service and manufacturing sectors. Prefeasibiliy and feasibility studies of the interconnection were carried out in 2007-2008 followed by supplementary studies in 2015-2017 on power analysis and development of operationalization and commercialization guidelines.

The project aims to improve the infrastructure for interconnection of the electricity grids of the NEL countries in order to increase cross-border exchange of electricity between them. The project consists of the construction of 946 km of 220/400 kV power transmission lines and 17 power substations. The cross-border transmission lines are the following: 260 km Bujagali-Lessos (Uganda-Kenya); 172 km Mbarara-Mirama-Shango (Uganda-Rwanda); 293 km Buhandahanda-Goma-Gisenyi-Kibuye-Shango (DR Congo-Rwanda); 78 km Kamanyora-Bujumbura (DR Congo-Burundi); and 143 km Kigoma-Butare-Ngozi-Gitega (Rwanda-Burundi). The increased availability of electricity in the NEL region is expected to have immediate positive impacts on the competitiveness of investments in the productive sectors of the economy of the countries, in addition to the broader impacts on the service and manufacturing sectors. Prefeasibiliy and feasibility studies of the interconnection were carried out in 2007-2008 followed by supplementary studies in 2015-2017 on power analysis and development of operationalization and commercialization guidelines.