Tanzania has secured $258.82m from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a 400 kilovolt (kV) high voltage electricity line to connect its national power grid to Kenya’s, Reuters reported. Kenya has already agreed to pay $50.45m for work on the link on its side of the border.

The Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) will constructed the line from Singida via Arusha to Namanga border and Isinya in Kenya, covering 318km in Tanzania while the remaining 96km will be built in Kenya. The power line is a joint project between TANESCO and Kenya Transmission Company (Ketraco), according to Daily News.

TANESCO’s Managing Director, Felchesmi Mramba, said that implementation of the venture has been divided in three slots and awarded to three different contractors for smooth and timely execution. The three companies set to work on the mega project are Kalpatan Power Transmission Limited of India, Ms Bouygues Energy and Services of France as well as a consortium of Energoinvest and EMS of Yugoslavia and India.

In related news, Egypt Oil&Gas reported late August that Tanzania would sign a 400MW power purchase agreement with Ethiopia. The deal would be followed by the installation of power generation and transmission facilities that would not only foster economic integration but also cater for the region’s power needs for the next 25 years.