By:Hiiraan

Ethiopia has begun exporting electricity to Tanzania for the first time, delivering power through Kenya’s high-voltage transmission network in a successful pilot that marks a milestone in regional energy trade.

Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) Managing Director announced on social media that the trial transmitted power from Ethiopia along Kenya’s 400kV Suswa–Isinya line to the Kenya–Tanzania interconnector. The power flow increased the load on the line from 225 megawatts to 262 megawatts, demonstrating the corridor’s operational reliability and smooth cross-border connectivity.

This is the first time Ethiopian electricity has reached Tanzania via Kenya’s grid, establishing Ethiopia as an emerging regional power supplier with growing influence beyond its borders.

The pilot was conducted under the framework of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), a 13-member initiative designed to promote energy sharing and enhance power reliability across East Africa. Ethiopia, which already supplies around 200 MW to Kenya under a long-term agreement, is consolidating its position in regional markets as its hydropower capacity expands.

Financing for the transmission infrastructure enabling this pilot was provided by Kenya’s National Treasury alongside development partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, and European Investment Bank. These interconnections are part of broader plans to link Eastern and Southern Africa’s electricity grids.