Ouma Wanzala
21 June 2011
Nairobi — East Africa community needs Sh200 million ($3.2 million) for the implementation of an integrated energy resources and markets strategy which has been developed in collaboration with African Development Bank.
EAC deputy secretary general Jean Nsengiyumva said the plan has five components that include subsector master plans, regional energy policy, legal and regulatory framework, regional investment code and priority list of projects from the sub-sector master plans from all member counties.
“We are committed to adopting a holistic and comprehensive approach in addressing the energy sector issues facing the region,” he said.
Mr Nsengiyumva said that bloc had approached the AfDB to help in mobilising funding for implementation strategy.
He spoke in Arusha when ministers for energy from the region met to review progress made in the sector.
The regional power master plan report which is complete is expected to play a pivotal role in harnessing electricity generation sources from the region taking advantage of interconnection opportunities to enable the EAC access electricity from neighboring regions at competitive rates.
The meeting also noted that the development of cross-border electrification policy was ongoing.
The policy addresses development of trans-boundary resources as well as extension of electricity supply to border towns from neighbouring EAC partner States.
Mr Nsengiyumva said that a feasibility study for a natural gas pipeline from Dar es Salaam to Tanga and Mombasa was complete and a similar study for extension of oil pipeline from Kigali to Bujumbura was set to start after the EAC secretariat secures funding from the African Development Bank.
“There is need, therefore, to hasten the commencement of the study for the Kampala-Kigali section which we understand was delayed to await conclusion of the feasibility study on refinery development in Uganda,” said Mr Nsengiyumva.
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Continued here:
Sh200 Million Needed for EAC Integrated Power Plan