Rwanda has joined a number of East African countries seeking to import electricity from Ethiopia as its demand grows.

After it became apparent that several generation projects it is implementing will not come on stream early enough, the country now plans to import 400 MW from Ethiopia by 2017.

This comes at a time when Rwanda is also negotiating with Kenya to import 300 MW from next year.

A senior Ministry of Infrastructure official says Rwanda faces major energy constraints that are impacting on direct foreign investments.

“We intend to bolster our limited power generation and have entered into an understanding with Ethiopia, from which we expect to start getting 400 MW by 2017,” says Tom Rwahama, the Ministry’s regional energy projects coordinator.

Besides Rwanda, East Africa’s fastest-growing economy, Kenya, Djibouti, Sudan and South Sudan also plan to import electricity from Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is undertaking massive investments in gigantic hydropower projects, with a view to generating 37 000 MW by 2035.

To facilitate the importation, Rwanda has teamed up with Kenya and Uganda in the construction of a 400 kV transmission line that will enable power trade among the neighbouring countries.

The three partners have already started a search for a consultant to undertake a feasibility study on the project, which will facilitate the transmission of over 500 MW, improve reliability and security of supply in the region and improve the operational and technical performance of the interconnected grid.

The line is part of the wider Eastern Electricity Highway Project, a 500 kV transmission line being implemented at a cost of $1.2-billion and covering a distance of 1 045 km from Ethiopia to Kenya.

According to Rwahama, the power imports will enable Rwanda to meet pressing energy needs, which include connecting more people to the national grid. Currently, less than 15% of the population has access to electricity, with total energy generation capacity standing at 110 MW.

Rwanda hopes that imports will tide the country over the medium term, while it implements several generation projects. Over the next five years, Rwanda intends to invest between $5-billion and $6-billion to exploit 300 MW of geothermal, 300 MW of methane and 330 MW of hydro potential to make the country energy sufficient.

Hydropower currently accounts at least 53% of Rwanda’s national electricity generation mix, with 46% coming from thermal sources and the rest from methane and solar.