Project Update: Middle East & Africa

Current status of key electric power transmission projects in Middle East & Africa

• Egypt–Saudi Arabia Grid Interconnection Project

  October 8, 2021
  EETC and National Grid SA are developing an interconnection project that aims to connect the grids of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The project entails the construction of a ±500 kV multi-terminal high voltage direct current (HVDC) link from Badr in Egypt to El-Madinah El Munawara via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The interconnector will have a transfer capacity of 3,000 MW. It will allow Egypt and Saudi Arabia to capitalise on the differences in their peak power demand times, facilitate trade, and lead to cost savings of around USD3.7 billion.

• Second Ivory Coast–Burkina Faso Transmission Project

  September 30, 2021
  The second power interconnection entails the construction of a high voltage line between Ferkessédougou in Ivory Coast and Bobo Dioulasso, Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.

• Tanzania–Zambia (TAZA) Transmission Interconnector Project

  September 9, 2021
  TAZA is part of the larger Zambia–Tanzania–Kenya (ZTK) project, which aims to link the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) with Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP).

• 500 kV Ethiopia–Sudan Interconnection

  September 9, 2021
  The proposed project will span 590-km to connect the power grids of Ethiopia and Sudan to ensure electricity supply in both the countries.

• 132 kV Olkaria–Narok Transmission Line Project, Kenya

  September 9, 2021
  The 68-km-long, 132 kV double-circuit transmission line will run from Olkaria to Narok in Kenya. It also enatils construction of the a new 132/33 kV substation at Narok and extension of the existing Olkaria substation. The line will serve as the backbone for increasing the electricity access within the Narok country and its surrounding areas.

• 400 kV Auas–Gerus Transmission Line Project, Namibia

  September 9, 2021
  The project involves the construction of the 287-km-long, 400 kV transmission line running from Auas substation near Dordabis to the Gerus substation near Otjiwarongo in Namibia.

• 230 kV Ethiopia–Djibouti Second Power Interconnection project [free access]

  August 9, 2021
  The project entails the construction of a 102-km-long, 230 kV double-circuit transmission line from Semera (Ethiopia) to Galafi (Djibouti Border), a 190-km-long, 230 kV double-circuit transmission line from Galafi to Nagad in Djibouti, and a 170-km-long, 230 kV double-circuit transmission line with one circuit strung from Kombolcha to Mile, and then to Semera in Ethiopia.

• 220 kV/400 kV Olkaria–Lessos–Kisumu Transmission Line Project, Kenya

  July 8, 2021
  The project completed in June 2021, connects the geothermal power plants in Olkaria to Kenya’s western region.

• Guinea–Mali Interconnection Project

  June 10, 2021
  The 225/30 kV Projetd’ Interconnexion Électrique Guinée Mali (PIEGM) or the Guinea–Mali Electric Interconnection Project, involves the construction of a 714-km-long, 225 kV transmission line between Guinea and Mali, of which 590 km is in Guinea and 124 km in Mali.

• Second 400 kV Kokerboom–Auas Transmission Line, Namibia

  May 10, 2021
  The second Kokerboom–Auas transmission line will ensure network stability and transmission of sufficient power, especially at peak times, during low river flow scenarios.

• 400 kV Huambo–Lubango Transmission Line Project, Angola

  April 5, 2021
  The project aims to connect the north and south transmission grids of Angola and further allow for the distribution of clean energy between the two regions.

• 500 kV HVDC Ethiopia–Kenya Link [free access]

  March 11, 2021
  The 500 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) line aims to link the power grids of Ethiopia and Kenya, create power-sharing between the two countries, reduce energy costs, and promote sustainable and renewable power generation.

• Lusaka Power Transmission and Distribution Network Project, Zambia

  February 9, 2021
  The Lusaka Power Transmission and Distribution Network (LPTDN) project being developed by ZESCO Limited aims to reinforce and upgrade the power transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure in the Lusaka area.

• EuroAfrica Interconnector Project, Egypt–Cyprus–Greece

  November 5, 2020
  The project aims to connect the electricity grids of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece through a subsea direct current (DC) cable and high voltage direct current (HVDC) onshore converter stations.

• Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)–Uganda Interconnection [free access]

  October 5, 2020
  The cross-border project aims to link north-eastern DRC, which is isolated from the national grid.

• Jordan–Saudi Arabia Interconnection Project [free access]

  September 4, 2020
  The proposed project will connect the power grids of Jordan and Saudi Arabia via a 164-km-long line from Qurayyat (Saudi Arabia) to East Amman (Jordan).

• 500 kV Egypt–Sudan Interconnection Project

  August 10, 2020
  The project aims to facilitate power trade between Egypt and Sudan and also promote stability of the two power systems.

• 330 kV North Core Project, Nigeria, Niger, Togo-Benin, Burkina Faso [free access]

  July 13, 2020
  The 330 kV North Core Project is a 330 kV transmission line from Birnin Kebbi (Nigeria) to Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), passing through Zabori (Niger) and Niamey (Niger) with a T-off to Malanville (Benin).

• 220 kV (400 kV) Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)–Uganda Interconnection

  June 10, 2020
  The cross-border project aims to link north-eastern DRC, which is isolated from the national grid.

• Cameroon–Chad Transmission Interconnection Project

  April 8, 2020
  The project involves the construction of 1,024-km-long, high voltage lines between Ngaoundéré, Maroua, in Cameroon, and N’Djamena in Chad, along with associated substations and distribution networks for rural electrification along the lines.