Energy
Ethiopia and Kenya to expand cross-border power trade
Ethiopia plans to double electricity exports to Kenya via the 500kV interconnector by December 2026.
Key points
- Ethiopia plans to increase peak electricity exports to Kenya from 200MW to 400MW by December 2026.
- Off-peak supplies are expected to rise from 65MW to 150MW over the same timeframe.
- The 1,045km transmission line links the Wolayta-Sodo station in Ethiopia to Kenya's Suswa Substation.
What happened
According to reporting by ESI Africa, Ethiopia intends to significantly scale up its electricity exports to neighboring Kenya before the end of 2026. Ethiopian Electric Power announced technical preparations in September 2026 to facilitate the expanded transmission capacity across the high-voltage direct current link.
The transmission infrastructure features a 500kV High Voltage Direct Current line spanning 1,045 kilometres, boasting a total capacity of 2,000MW. The system originates at the Wolayta-Sodo converter station inside Ethiopia and terminates at the Suswa Substation in Kenya. Following its completion in late 2022 and subsequent inauguration in 2023, the corridor serves as a vital anchor for the East African Power Pool, mirroring the regional role played by the Cahora Bassa link in Southern Africa.
Under the newly announced schedule, peak supplies transmitted through the interconnector will climb from 200MW to 400MW. Concurrently, off-peak deliveries will expand from 65MW to 150MW. These adjustments demonstrate a deepening energy trade relationship between the two nations, utilizing Ethiopia's substantial generation assets to meet growing demand in Kenya.
Why it matters
Cross-border electricity trade represents a critical mechanism for enhancing regional energy security and grid stability across the African continent. According to World Bank figures, electricity consumption levels remain modest in both countries, with Ethiopia recording 157.4 kWh per person and Kenya registering 195.3 kWh per person in 2024. Furthermore, access to electricity stands at 56.6 percent in Ethiopia and 77 percent in Kenya for the same year.
For energy investors and regional policymakers, the expansion of the Ethiopia-Kenya interconnector underscores the commercial viability of large-scale transmission infrastructure in unlocking stranded generation capacity. Ethiopia maintains a heavily renewable-based electricity matrix, with World Bank data from 2020 showing a renewable share of 95.3 percent, while Kenya recorded 78.1 percent in 2021. Scaling up trans-boundary electricity commerce allows nations with high clean energy potential to monetize surplus generation while helping importing countries diversify their supply sources and reduce reliance on thermal generation.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
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Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
