| Africa's electricity managers agree on uniform standards |  |  |
| Written by Steve Mbogo | |
 Photo by: Stephen Mudiari June 26, 2008: Africa's power sector managers have agreed to start a process that will culminate in common electricity standards across the continent. The move aims at speeding up the pace of interconnection across national borders, which has been blocked by the different standards in different territories. Most African countries' power systems run on different operating frequencies and voltage, have different methods of procurement and equipment standards. Power generation and distribution standards are also different. This is despite the fact that nearly all of the continent's regional trading blocs have established frameworks for sharing electricity through power pools and a long term aspiration to establish a continental pool. An Africa-wide pool is seen as the best solution to ensuring adequate and regular power supply, especially for countries facing acute shortages. The pool is expected to facilitate development of new untapped potential of power production in countries like Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). World Bank data shows that DRC has a 40GW (gigawatts) hydro resource potential on the Congo River that is yet to be harnessed. There have been plans to tap this potential and export it to Nigeria where demand is high via Cameroon. DRC is also involved in joint power project with Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Angola. Energy experts say regional interconnection is important because it protects countries from emergency electricity, mostly diesel driven, that reduce the competitiveness of goods in export markets. Earlier in the year, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) announced a Sh1 trillion plan to interlink its 19-member countries. Comesa said the programme would encourage member states to co-operate in joint development and utilisation of energy resources in order to have enough supplies at affordable prices. Already as part of this plan, a high voltage line is being constructed to link Nairobi to Arusha after studies were completed last year. Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) confirmed earlier that the line will be able to take power to either side. Kenya is connected to Uganda. A feasibility study is being carried out to connect Kenya to Ethiopia, which has a production capacity of 1,875 megawatts, over four times its current demand of 400 megawatts. The connection will be implemented through Moyale, according to Callixte Kambanda, the executive secretary of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), which aims to connect seven countries and is part of the Comesa project. Comesa said it hopes the interconnection of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) with the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) will create opportunities for the tapping of the abundant hydro-resources in DRC, Ethiopia, Zambia and Uganda. Inugonum Tom, a senior manager of Power System Planning said the issue of harmonization is very important for electricity operations in Africa because it will help the continent access cheap electricity, facilitate low cost connection to consumers that will increase rural connections and help strengthen weak grinds in the continent. "Harmonization of these standards will help ensure technical and administrative compatibility. The metering for instance will ensure that utilities harmonize their revenue collection methods by replicating the success cases," he said. The Southern, West and North African power pools are active in their respective regions The West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sinohydro, a Chinese company to collaborate as strategic partners in developing. |
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