Kenyans are set to enjoy cheaper electricity rates in the coming months following the completion of Ksh50 billion Suswa Substation, the biggest of its kind.
The project undertaken by Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), was commissioned in 2015 in a partnership between Kenya and Ethiopia.
Dubbed Suswa High Voltage Direct Current Converter substation, the new project is aimed at providing affordable access to electricity by Kenyans, industries and the local governments due to the cheap hydropower from Ethiopia.
The Interconnection is expected to offer alternate power supply to Kenya and Ethiopia during the dry season when hydro generation is dismal.
Speaking during the tour of the power station, Energy CS Charles Keter said that the country would play a bigger role in power trade across the region with the substation.
The station will be commissioned in three months, after the testing on its functionality is done.
"This is the second regional interconnect. This is the biggest one it connects us to Ethiopia all the way to Sudan and then to Egypt.
"We are working on the power purchase agreement between us and Ethiopia. We should be able to connect once it is finished," the CS revealed.
The station is a state of the art structure complete with power lines and convertors as well as an office.
It is expected to supply 500 kV HVDC originating from Wolyata Sodo in Ethiopia and terminate in Suswa, Kenya.
The total length of the project is 1045km, out of which 433km will be in Ethiopia and the remaining 612km in Kenya.
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company already has a power purchase agreement with Ethiopia Electric Power Company for a supply of 400 MW. This amount of supply will increase as demand and supply increases over time.
Over the recent months, Kenyans have had to put up with exorbitant power prices following negative effects on the country's economy.
