Kenya observed an 18 percent surge in electricity imports from Uganda in January, driven by heightened demand.
power transmission lines ( courtesy image )
The bilateral power exchange initiative between the two nations allows for reciprocal supply during periods of power deficit.
Data from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) reveals that Kenya imported 20.29 million power units from the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited last month, marking a substantial uptick from the 17.12 million units acquired in December.
Under the power exchange program, Kenya and Uganda mutually provide each other with electricity, with the country exporting more invoicing its counterpart at the end of the fiscal year. In January, Kenya exported 3.41 million units to Uganda, and in December, it exported four million units, resulting in Uganda maintaining a positive trade balance in the exchange. Beyond Uganda, Kenya sources power from Ethiopia, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the local supply.
Hydro output experienced a 6.9 percent decline in January, attributed by KenGen to strategic water resource management for optimized output. Epra data reveals a decrease in hydro output from 272.36 million units in December to 253.4 million units in January. KenGen anticipates increased hydro generation as water levels in major dams have risen this month, aligning with a long-term water management plan.
Overall, power generation saw a 5.4 percent increase in January, reflecting a surge in customer demand. Epra reports that over a dozen power producers generated 1.165 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity last month, up from 1.105 billion kWh in December 2023.
“Total units generated and purchased, including hydro and excluding exports in January 2024, were 1,165,321,330 kWh,” stated Epra director-general Daniel Kiptoo.
Chased by
Frank Musakali.