The Uganda (Nkenda) - DR Congo (Beni-Butembo-Bunia) 400 kV Power Transmission Line Project is a regional power interconnection initiative designed to strengthen cross-border electricity trade and improve supply reliability in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project entails the construction of a 400 kV transmission line linking Nkenda substation in Uganda to Beni substation and construction of the 220kV to Butembo, and Bunia in the north-eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, together with associated substations and system reinforcement works.
Full Feasibility Studies and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) have been completed, confirming the project's technical viability, economic justification, and environmental and social compliance. The Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) has been substantially prepared and will be finalized and implemented during the project execution phase in accordance with applicable national regulations and development partner safeguard requirements.
The project is currently at the resource mobilization stage, with efforts underway to secure financing for implementation. Once operational, the interconnection is expected to facilitate least-cost regional power trade, reduce reliance on expensive and carbon-intensive generation sources in eastern DRC, improve system stability, and enhance regional integration within the Eastern Africa Power Pool framework.
The Uganda (Nkenda) - DR Congo (Beni-Butembo-Bunia-Mabuki) Power Transmission Inter-Connection Project is a strategic regional infrastructure initiative aimed at constructing a 400 kV double-circuit high voltage transmission line spanning 352.2 km, linking Nkenda substation in Kasese, Western Uganda, to new substations at Beni, Butembo, Bunia and Mabuki in the North Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The project includes upgrading the Nkenda substation and aims to integrate the isolated and eastern DRC power grid with Uganda's national grid, thereby enhancing electricity reliability, security, and access in the region.
It supports optimal utilization of generation resources, promotes regional power trade, and facilitates least-cost power expansion projects, contributing to socio-economic development and environmental sustainability.
Sponsored by the Nile Basin Initiative/Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NBI/NELSAP), Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), and Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL), the project is aligned with the East African Power Pool (EAPP) Master Plan to create a regional power highway which aims to maximise the affordable availability of electricity around the region. Increasing power trade is key to this aspiration.
To facilitate regional power trade from least-cost generation sources through the optimization of the Generation and Transmission Expansion Plan (GTEP) within the Eastern Africa Power Pool, and in particular to address the persistent electricity deficit in the north-eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.