Uganda To Export 80MW To Kenya

By Reuben Olitain NairobiKENYA will import 80 megawatts of power from Uganda when the 200MW Bujagali hydroeletric project on River Nile is commissioned in February 2006, officials said yesterday.Uganda currently supplies Kenya with up to 30MW of electricity which hardly meets the country’s demand.Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and the recently established Uganda Electricity Transmission Company (UETC) signed a new power purchase agreement for additional capacity in Nairobi yesterday.The agreement was signed by KPLC managing director Samuel Gichuru and his Ugandan counterpart, Eriasi Kiyemba. Kenya’s energy minister Chris Okemo and his Uganda counterpart Syda Bbumba witnessed the function.Under the agreement Kenya will purchase the power for a period of 14 years starting February 2006.Ends