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DevNews Desk| East Africa. Urge- DevWire
African Development Bank supports stronger regional electricity planning in East Africa
Countries across East Africa have taken a step towards improving regional electricity planning and power sharing through work supported by the African Development Bank Group.
The Bank reported on 9 October 2026 that a regional workshop on the East African Power System Master Plan brought together stakeholders to strengthen coordinated planning for the region's electricity systems.
Regional electricity planning is important as East African countries expand generation capacity, develop transmission infrastructure and seek to improve the reliability and affordability of power. Coordinated planning can help identify where cross-border transmission links and complementary generation investments could improve the use of available resources.
Electricity demand is rising as populations grow, urbanisation accelerates and governments seek to expand industrial activity and digital services. At the same time, countries face different energy mixes, infrastructure constraints and investment requirements.
A regional master plan can provide a basis for identifying priority investments, improving the integration of national grids and strengthening the technical coordination required for cross-border electricity trade.
The initiative also has implications for renewable energy development. Better interconnected systems can help countries manage variability in renewable generation and make more efficient use of diverse energy resources, subject to the availability of suitable infrastructure and operating arrangements.
The Bank's announcement highlights the importance of regional cooperation in developing an integrated power market. It does not, however, establish a new financing commitment or confirm that specific infrastructure projects have reached financial close.
The next challenge is translating regional planning into investment decisions, coordinated implementation and reliable electricity services for households and businesses.
DevNews Desk| East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Date: 9 October 2026 | Regional coverage: East Africa | City: Kigali, Rwanda
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