Suswa–Isinya–Rabai High Voltage Power Line

Suswa–Isinya–Rabai High Voltage Power Line is an operational high voltage (400 kilo Volts) electricity power line connecting the high voltage substation at Suswa, Kenya to another high voltage substation at Rabai, Kenya.^[1]

Suswa–Isinya–Rabai High Voltage Power Line
Location
Country	Kenya
Coordinates	3.930959°S 39.554875°E / -3.930959; 39.554875
General direction	North to South
From	Suswa, Kenya
Passes through	Isinya, Bachuma, Voi
To	Rabai, Kenya
Ownership information
Owner	Government of Kenya
Partners	African Development Bank
Operator	Kenya Electricity Transmission Company
Construction information
Expected	2017
Technical information
Type of current	AC
Total length	300 mi (480 km)
AC voltage	400kV
No. of circuits	2

Location

The power line starts at Suswa, in Narok County, about 80 kilometres (50 mi), by road, north-west of Nairobi,^[2] and runs in a south-easterly direction for approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) to the Ketraco Power Substation at Isinya, in Kajiado County.^[3]

From Isinya, the power line follows a south-easterly course to end at Rabai, in Kilifi County, approximately 393 kilometres (244 mi), away, as the crow flies.^[4] The power line measures about 482 kilometres (300 mi).^[1]

Overview

The original plan was to build a 220 kilo Volt transmission line. Plans were later revised and the voltage was increased to 400kV.^[5] The line serves three main purposes: (a) It transmits power generated from geothermal power stations in the Eastern Rift Valley, to Kenya's coastal region^[5] (b) It transmits power from thermal power stations near the coast to the industrial centers in and near Nairobi^[5] (c) Through Suswa, the power line connects to Lessos and Tororo, Uganda, allowing the export of electricity to Uganda and Rwanda.^[5]

Construction

Construction started in August 2011, with the Rabai–Isinya section. Construction was budgeted at KSh14 billion (US$140 million), funded with loans from (i) the French Development Agency (ii) the European Investment Bank and (iii) the African Development Bank. The Government of Kenya, invested equity in the project.^[6] Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL) from India, was the lead contractor on this project. Siemens was the substation contractor.^[6] After delays, the power line came on-line in the second half of 2017.^[7][8][9]

See also

• Energy in Kenya
• Energy in Tanzania
• Isinya–Singida High Voltage Power Line
• Loiyangalani-Suswa High Voltage Power Line
• Bujagali–Tororo–Lessos High Voltage Power Line