NAIVASHA, Kenya, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and South Sudan said Tuesday they are working on a deal to address the acute shortage of electricity in Juba. Under the deal, Kenya will offer electricity from geothermal in exchange of gas from oil fields in South Sudan.
Charles Keter, Kenya's cabinet secretary for energy and petroleum, said that works were undergoing to construct transmission lines to Lodwar town which neighbors South Sudan, noting that Nairobi was keen to use the transmission lines to supply electricity to the neighboring country which was currently engaged in various development projects.
"We are engaging our brothers from South Sudan so that Kenya can get gas from the oil fields while they in return will get electricity supply," he said.
The official made the remarks when visiting South Sudanese President Salva Kiir toured the geothermal plant in Naivasha, Kenya.
Daniel Awou, South Sudan's minister for petroleum, said that his country faces many challenges in power production, noting that the oil fields in the war-ravaged country need more electricity so that they could supply more oil.
"We are ready to partner with Kenya in terms of geothermal exploration and supply as currently the demand for electricity in our country is higher than supply," he said.
