Tanzania has requested authorization to import 100 megawatts of electricity from Ethiopia using Kenya’s power grid, pending approval from local energy regulators.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) confirmed receiving agreements between Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) and Ethiopia Electric Power (EEP) for the transmission. The request is under review to assess Kenya’s grid capacity to support the power transfer.
The three nations have recently completed key transmission projects, advancing efforts to establish the East African Power Pool. The Kenya-Tanzania interconnector, running from Isinya through Namanga to Arusha, became operational in 2024, while the Kenya-Ethiopia interconnector began operations in 2022.
Tanesco will need to formalize an agreement with Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) and pay wheeling charges for using Kenyan infrastructure. Regional regulators aim to harmonize policies to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, with plans to launch East Africa’s power market in March.
The African Development Bank emphasized the importance of independent regulatory frameworks to attract investments and enhance energy cooperation across the continent.