EAST AFRICAN POWER INDUSTRY CONVENTION We are at the forefront of the energy transition in East Africa Interview with Sliman Abu Amara, Business Development Director Africa, DNV GL – Energy Bronze sponsors at the 2015 EAPIC in Nairobi. What energy projects in East Africa that your company is currently involved in are you particularly excited about? SAA We are at the forefront of the energy transition in East Africa. In fact, we are involved in the most innovative projects that tackle the electricity deficit in Kenya and provide confidence in the future electrification of Africa, including the incorporation of renewables. We are demonstrating our commitment to modernising and developing power in Africa by advising KETRACO on the construction of a 400kV high voltage overhead transmission line and substations in Kenya. This government-owned organisation was established to develop new high voltage electricity transmission infrastructure, in line with the country’s development programme: Kenya Vision 2030. Wind power generated at the Lake Turkana Wind Power plant will be fed into the national grid at Suswa. DNV GL demonstrated its commitment to modernising and developing power in Africa by advising on the construction of a 420kV overhead transmission line and substations. The 426km AC line runs from the national grid at Suswa (80km NW of Nairobi) to Loiyangalani (SE of Lake Turkana). The line is designed to strengthen EAPIC East African Power Industry ConvenƟon 22 the Kenyan grid and build a connection between the capital, Nairobi, and one of the largest wind farms in Africa. It supports the government initiative to harness the country’s rich renewable resources to boost the economy and respond to consumption needs in the capital. Without transmission lines such as this, the future development of reliable wind and geothermal sources would be limited, and Kenya forced to rely on more expensive fossil fuels serving power plants in the coastal region. DNV GL has been involved in the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project (LTWP) since 2007 with services on project management and 3rd party review. It is the single largest private investment project in Kenya and one of the largest wind projects in Africa. CLEAN POWER EAST AFRICA Another exciting project we are currently involved in is wind mapping for Tanzania and Zambia for the World Bank ESMAP program. These wind maps can be used by the government to assess the resource potential for strategic planning, and the grid owner is able to identify where these projects are likely to be built and to plan for future grid reinforcements to facilitate future connection in windy areas. Providing Tanzania and Zambia this wind map further boosts the renewable energy developments of the countries, stimulates economic growth and ultimately reduces poverty. Through knowledge transfers we will be able to educate the general public (local and international) and demonstrate the resource potential. What are the main challenges of this region? SAA Africa’s economy is booming: seven of the ten fastest growing economies in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa. However this explosive economic growth has created a severe electricity shortage, which is hindering further commercial development. According to The World Bank statistics, African manufacturing companies experience power outages on average 56 days per year. Reliable 365-days-a-year electricity supplies Driving the regional roadmap of collaboration, investment and project implementations ESI AFRICA ISSUE 1 2015