Kenya and Tanzania have invited bids for the construction of about 510 km of 400 kV power lines and substations as part of their power interconnection project. The project would be funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) with a US$145m loan, and by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Bids are due by 9 September 2015.
In December 2014, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a 400 KV power interconnection line, that should be completed in phases between 2016 and 2018. The project would connect the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). The Zambia – Tanzania – Kenya (ZTK) was proposed in the late 1980s when Zambia and Tanzania started bilateral negotiations to link Serenje (Pensulo sub-station) in Zambia through to Kasama and on to Mbeya in Tanzania. The two countries signed an MoU in 1998 and Kenya joined the project in 2001. The line would be over 1,600 km.
Kenya aims to raise its installed capacity from about 1.7 GW in 2013 to 6.7 GW by 2017 and to add 5,00 km of power lines to its 3,800 km network. Neighbouring Tanzania aims to double its generation capacity to 3 GW by the end of 2016 (1.5 GW installed in 2013).