Reference List

Ethiopia-Kenya Converter Station Project

Project Overview

 

Industry

Construction & Infrastructure

Location

EEthiopia, Kenya

Sodo–Moyale–Suswa High Voltage Power Line (or Ethiopia–Kenya HVDC Interconnector) is a 500 kV bipolar

high-voltage direct current electricity power transmission line, under construction, connecting the Wolayta

converter station (6°54′27″N 37°43′19″E) near Sodo, Ethiopia with the Suswa converter station

(1°3′44″S 36°21′35″E) near Suswa, Kenya.

This power line serves one major purpose. It will enable Ethiopia to transfer surplus electricity to Kenya, for sale

to the countries of the East African Community and the Great Lakes Region. The power generated in Ethiopia is

less expensive than that generated in Kenya, and the new energy purchases are expected to lower the general

power tariffs in Kenya and promote industrial growth in the country.

The entire power line in both countries is budgeted at KSh126 billion (approximately US$1.26 billion). Funding

was sourced from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, the principal financier. Completion is

expected in June 2019. In August 2018, The EastAfrican reported that at that time, 75 percent of the work in

Kenya was complete, while simultaneously, 90 percent of the work in Ethiopia was complete, with commissioning

expected in 2019.

 

Caledonian had supported this project with CCECC ETHIOPIA CONSTRUCTION P.L.C, for three systems,

Grounding materials, Electrode cables, Electrical auxiliaries, and provided copper tapes, welding materials,

section feeder and well feeder cables, rod cables for FeSiCr ground electrode, power cables, data cables and

fiber optic cables.