EAC Power Sector

EAC countries have varying power demand, and depending on the capacity of the installed capacity, a country with a low electricity demand but high generation capacity could benefit from selling the extra capacity through an integrated system to a country with high demand but small size. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy sector’s power demand has reflected an upward trend. The resilience indicates a foreseeable quick recovery from the pandemic. The region’s transmission infrastructure is expanding to allow for robust power trade and eventually to achieve the Africa Single Electricity Market(AfSEM).
Country Generation (GWh) Consumption(GWh)
Burundi 153.1 260.9
Kenya 8840 7769
Rwanda 452 613.2
Tanzania 6619 5052
Uganda 4076 3362
South Sudan 412 391
Part of the Energy Flagship Initiatives of the EAC, jointly with the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), is in the process of updating a regional power master plan and interconnection code. The EAC-EAPP Regional Power Plan (2013-2038) expanded the existing East African Power Master Plan (EAPMP) (2003-2024) to cover the two Partner States of Rwanda and Burundi, which joined the EAC after the EAPMP had already been developed. Besides, the EAC-EAPP Regional Power Plan updated key planning criteria and took account of developments in the power sector since March 2005 when the EAPMP was completed. It is envisaged that during the period of the Vision 2050, joint initiatives and investments will be undertaken to actualise the future regional transmission interconnections which target power shortfalls. With such efforts, EREA will work closely with these entities and others to accelerate the harmonisation of the energy policies and spearhead the development of an integrated power market.

Electrification rate

The electrification rate in the EAC countries is significantly low compared to other developed nations. Amongst the EAC countries, Kenya is leading with over fifty per cent electrification rate followed by Tanzania.  Uganda and Rwanda have electrification rates slightly above 50 per cent while Burundi has the lowest electrification rate of 6 per cent.

Electricity Access rate

The high electrification rate is one of the preconditions for a better electricity market integration. It may be of no value to integrate the regional markets when the consumers do not benefit from the energy. One key element in the integration of electricity markets is their opening up for investment in and, hence enhancing economic efficiency. As the integration increases, cross-border power trade opens up these markets for more participants and less market power and more capacity additions.

EREA ENERGY STATISTICS

EREA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORTS

EAC GRID CODES

EREA ECONOMIC COMMITTEE REPORTS