The EastAfrican
Date: 12.07.2015
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Top projects
on Africa's
longest river
By JEFF OTIENO
The EastAfrican
DAMS, IRRIGATION and energy projects
top the list of ventures identified by the
Nile Basin Initiative, as necessary to im­
Kenya­Tanzania Interconnector (Nai­
robi­Arusha­Singida): The project was
prove the lives of thousands of individuals
who depend on the river's resource.
They projects include the following:
Kenya­Uganda Interconnector (Bujaga­
li­Tororo­Lessos): The $78 million project
is being financed by the African Develop­
ment Bank (AfDB) and Japan Internation­
al Co­operation Agency (JICA), with 50 per
cent of the cost to be split between Kenya
and Uganda. It comprises a 260km line
with a capacity of transmitting 400KV,
stepping. Construction is ongoing.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
The EastAfrican
Date: 12.07.2015
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prepared with financing from the Norwe­
gian government at a cost of $3 million.
Once completed, it is expected to transmit
400KV and also enable power exchange
of up to l.OOOMW. The total cost is $223
million and is to be financed by AfDB and
JICA. The tendering and implementation
is being done by Kenya and Tanzania.
Ethiopia­Kenya Interconnector: The
project was prepared by the governments
of Kenya and Ethiopia. Once completed,
the project will have the capacity of trans­
mitting 400KV and will be capable of rout­
ing an estimated 2,000MW from Ethiopia
to Kenya. The implementation is ongo­
ing and is being conducted by Kenya and
Ethiopia. Others are the construction of
Uganda­Rwanda interconnector, which is
also ongoing. The Tanzania­Zambia inter­
connector, Uganda­DR Congo interconnec­
tor and Uganda­South Sudan interconnec­
tor are all at the preparation stage.
Maira dam, Sio­Malaba­Malakisi river
system: The $12 million project is expect­
ed to help irrigate 3,000 hectares of land
and also supply clean water to area resi­
dents. The project is being implemented
by the Kenya government under the Kenya
Climate Growth Resilience Programme
Phase II and the World Bank.
Nyatike dam, Gucha Migoru river sys­
tem: The $300 million project is expected
to bring about 20,000 hectares under ir­
rigation and will have a potential of pro­
ducing 50MW of electricity. A detailed
preparation of the project is being done by
the Kenyan government with the help of
the Nile Basin Initiative.
Yala River Basin System: The Keben
dam, which will be constructed on the riv­
er basin, was identified by NELSAP. Once
completed, the dam is expected to gener­
ate 5MW and bring around 1,000 hectares
under irrigation. A detailed preparation
and implementation plan is being pre­
pared by the Kenyan government. The esti­
mated cost of the project is $60 million.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
The EastAfrican
Date: 12.07.2015
Page 25
Article size: 179 cm2
ColumnCM: 39.77
AVE: 59666.66
An artistic impression of the Jinja bridge
crossing River Nile. Pic: Morgan Mbabazi
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya