DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) has completed a Study of power
development options and power trade opportunities in the Nile Basin, the Comprehensive
Basin-Wide Study (CBWS). The Study is the first such effort to analyze electricity demand and
supply balance at regional level for NBI Member States.

The Study undertaken by NBI’s Regional Power Trade Project provides an informative up to
date tool for identification and preparation of power projects from a portfolio of best options
evaluated on the basis of multi-criteria techniques and risk analysis, and takes cognizance of the need to plan hydropower development in the context of multipurpose use of water resources. The Study also proposes a robust transmission Back-bone to ensure adequacy and reliability of power supply as well as maximizing the inherent opportunities presented by a rich variety of energy resources in the region.

The findings of the Study will be reviewed by decision makers from NBI Member States
including Permanent Secretaries from the ministries of Energy, Water, Planning and Finance,
Chief Executive Officers of power utilities and members of the Nile Technical Advisory
Committee, during a high level technical workshop organized by the Regional Power Trade
Project on 3rd December, 2011 at the Movenpick Hotel in Dar es Salaam. Other participants
include representatives of NBI Member States Ambassadors in Dar es Salaam, representatives
from Embassies of NBI’s key Development Partners, as well as Financial Institutions.

The more than 70 delegates will also develop a joint strategy for resource mobilization to
implement recommendations of the Comprehensive Basin-wide Study.

The high level technical workshop will be preceded by a two-day moderated capacity building
workshop from 1st to 2nd December, 2011 to discuss and exchange experience on trends,
techniques and strategies for effective resource mobilization and implementation frameworks
specific to large power infrastructure projects.
 
Note to the Editor:
Preparation of the CBWS has taken 20 months since 3rd March 2010. The objective of the study was to undertake an inclusive and participatory comprehensive basin-wide study of power development options (including backbone transmission and inter connection corridors) in the 1 countries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania Uganda, and Djibouti. The Study outputs at various stages have been
reviewed by a multi-discipline, multi-country Working Group of power experts drawn from the region and internationally. The Study report incorporates comments received from a well
attended international conference of stakeholders organized by the Regional Power Trade
Project in mid October 2011.