2015年-世界发展银行全球_Powering_the_Nile_Basin_8页_580kb

Summary of BRIEFING NOTE 2: Powering the Nile Basin

Core Content

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) has been instrumental in addressing power poverty and enhancing energy security across the Nile Basin through cooperative regional projects. Despite the region's substantial energy resources, many countries lack reliable and affordable electricity, which hinders economic development and negatively impacts health and education. The NBI has facilitated the development of transboundary power infrastructure, including transmission lines and hydropower projects, to improve regional energy access and sustainability.

Main Points and Achievements

Regional Power Infrastructure Development

• Interconnection Projects: The NBI has promoted the construction of regional transmission lines to improve electricity sharing and reduce costs.
• Transmission Capacity: Over 3000 km of new transmission lines are expected to enhance regional connectivity.
• Hydropower Potential: The 2011 Comprehensive Basin-Wide Study (CBWS) identified 145,000 MW of hydropower potential in the Nile Basin, with 65% of the region's power expected to come from hydropower.
• Regional Power Development Strategy: The study led to a strategy that recommends a rational sequence for regional power investments.

Key Projects

• Interconnecting the Electric Grids of NEL Countries: This project involves four interconnections across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC, with over $530 million invested so far.
• Ethiopia-Sudan Interconnection Project: A 1200 MW transmission line has been built, benefiting 8 million people and reducing power costs for Sudan.
• Backbone Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya Project: Aims to link the East African Power Pool (EAPP) with the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP), enabling cross-regional power sharing.
• Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project: A 80 MW hydropower plant expected to benefit 1.14 million people, with $470 million secured for its development.

Benefits of Regional Cooperation

• Cost Reduction: Countries can share risks, costs, and benefits, reducing the financial burden on individual nations.
• Increased Energy Access: 22 million people are expected to benefit from more reliable and affordable electricity.
• Sustainable Development: The NBI has mainstreamed environmental, social, and gender considerations into project planning and implementation.
• Economic Growth: Reliable power supply is expected to boost economic development, education, and healthcare in the region.

Role of the NBI

• Shared Vision Program (SVP): Focused on building trust, capacity, and an enabling environment for regional cooperation in power.
• Subsidiary Action Programs (SAPs): Identified and supported 11 regional projects, including 5 related to power generation, transmission, and trade.
• Regional Power Pools: The NBI supports the development of regional power pools, which enable economies of scale, diversified energy mixes, and improved access to modern energy services.

Regional Power Pools

• East African Power Pool (EAPP): A key institution for regional power coordination and trade.
• Benefits of Pooling:
  • Reduces capital investment and operational costs.
  • Enhances energy security and affordability.
  • Promotes sustainable development and equitable resource sharing.

Regional Significance of Projects

• Projects of Regional Significance: Reflect a shift from unilateral to collaborative approaches, considering regional impacts and shared benefits.
• Transboundary Cooperation: Involves risk, cost, and benefit sharing, ensuring sustainability and equity in development.

Conclusion

The NBI has successfully driven regional cooperation in the power sector, leading to significant infrastructure investments and improved energy access. By promoting transboundary projects, the NBI has enabled cost-effective power generation, reliable electricity supply, and sustainable development. The Rusumo Falls project exemplifies how collaborative efforts can overcome historical challenges and deliver transformative benefits to the region. The NBI continues to support the powering of the Nile Basin to its full development potential.