Tanzania’s power link to Kenya, Zambia complete in 2015

Tanzania will complete a $455-million power transmission line next year linking its power grid to Kenya and Zambia, part of plans to export electricity powered by its gas and coal reserves to neighbours, the Energy and Minerals Ministry said on Monday.

Known as the “backbone interconnector”, Tanzania’s Energy Ministry said the $455-million link would be in place by April, one of several regional projects that include links running between Kenya and Ethiopia and between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

The 667 km high-voltage line is being built with financing from the European Investment Bank, World Bank, African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund.

Tanzania has 46.5-trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves and is investing in a pipeline and new gas-fired power plants to boost generation. It also aims to export gas with a planned build liquefied natural gas plant.

It also has 5-billion tonnes of coal reserves and plans to build coal-fired power plants.

By: Reuters

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/tanzania-says-power-link-to-kenya-zambia-to-be-completed-next-year-2014-10-06