Accelerating Power Infrastructure in East Africa: Which Cable Categories Are Seeing Demand Surges?

Since 2026, power infrastructure construction across East Africa has been gathering full momentum. From Kenya’s 400 kV main transmission grid and Tanzania’s 345‑kilometre high voltage transmission corridor, to Uganda’s first undersea cable across Lake Victoria and national rural distribution network upgrading schemes, a large number of power projects are under construction or nearing completion. This infrastructure boom spanning East Africa is opening up new demand opportunities for Chinese cable exporters.

So which cable categories are undergoing surging demand?

I. High/Extra High Voltage Power Cables: Core Requirement for Main Grid Expansion

East African countries have long grappled with low electricity access rates and poor grid stability. In 2026, multiple national‑level main transmission grid projects are advancing in tandem, driving robust demand for high voltage cables.

Kenya leads grid development in East Africa. In June 2026, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) commissioned the KSh 8.4 billion (around USD 84 million) Isinya‑Konza 400 kV double‑circuit transmission line. Stretching 98 kilometres, the supporting 400/132/66 kV Konza Substation is fitted with two 400/132 kV, 350 MVA transformers, securing power supply for Konza Technopolis, Kenya’s flagship smart‑city initiative. Around the same time, the Kenya Power Transmission Expansion Project built by China Aerospace Construction was fully completed, with 216 kilometres of power cables laid. In addition, KETRACO is pressing ahead with the Rumuruti‑Nanyuki‑Isiolo 132 kV underground cable project, including a 16.8‑kilometre section of 132 kV double‑circuit underground cable financed by the African Development Bank.

In Tanzania, the 345‑kilometre 400 kV Chalinze‑Dodoma transmission line was 94 % complete by the end of July 2026 and scheduled for full commissioning on 21 August. Funded entirely by the Government of Tanzania at roughly TSh 5140 billion, the line will deliver power generated by the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (2115 MW installed capacity) across the country. For the 2026/27 fiscal year, Tanzania has allocated about USD 967.3 million to the energy sector, most of which will go toward power‑development initiatives. In Uganda, the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Transmission System Upgrade Project stands at 90.57 % completion. Backed by an USD 83.3 million concessional loan from JICA, it covers reinforcement of key 132 kV transmission lines and construction of new substations.

Key demand highlights for high voltage cables: 400 kV, 220 kV and 132 kV overhead conductors and underground cables represent core procurement categories for East Africa’s ongoing transmission‑grid build‑out. Buyers are mainly national state‑owned transmission utilities including KETRACO, TANESCO and UETCL. Most projects receive financing from multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and African Development Bank, with strict compliance requirements for IEC standards certification.

II. Medium and Low Voltage Distribution Cables: The Broadest‑Reaching and Fastest Growing Market

If high voltage cables enable power to be transmitted over long distances, medium and low voltage cables make electricity accessible to end users. Rural electrification, urban distribution network retrofits and rising commercial industrial power consumption are generating massive demand for medium and low voltage cables.

Many East African nations are pursuing energy independence strategies, driving sustained demand for rural grid upgrades, distributed solar PV, urban‑rural water supply and wastewater‑treatment infrastructure. Tanzania added more than 800000 grid‑connected customers in fiscal 2025/26, an all time high since independence. This large influx of new consumers requires matching cables throughout the distribution network from transformers to end‑user premises.

In Rwanda, Sinohydro Bureau 1 of PowerChina is implementing the Kigali and Eastern Region Distribution Network Project, which comprises medium voltage and low voltage line construction. In Ethiopia, line modernisation works are underway in Addis Ababa and Sheger, where around 673 kilometres of lines will be replaced; bare conductors are being swapped for insulated cables to reduce power outage risks. Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has launched distribution‑network upgrades in the Greater Masaka region and expanded multiple 132 kV transformers under the Kawanda‑Mutundwe Substation Expansion.

Urbanisation across East Africa is also fuelling demand for building‑wiring cables. Kenya registered more than 400 000 new electricity customers in 2025, and rising urbanisation has pushed up household consumption of home appliances and cooling equipment.

Key demand highlights for medium and low voltage cables: Medium voltage (11 kV, 33 kV) overhead insulated cables, low‑voltage (400 V) service‑entry cables and building wires represent the most consistently demanded product lines. Procurement for these items tends to be fragmented, with short lead times and relatively fast payment cycles, making them a solid market base for cable exporters.

III. Special‑Purpose Cables: New Growth Tracks Driven by Renewable Energy and Specialised Applications

Beyond conventional transmission‑and‑distribution cables, several niche segments are expanding rapidly.

Solar‑PV and energy‑storage dedicated cables are among the fastest‑growing product categories. Blessed with abundant solar resources, East Africa hosts a proliferation of distributed photovoltaic installations. Kenya’s 40 MW Kisumu Solar Power Plant, a landmark renewable‑energy project under Vision 2030, can supply electricity to 120000 households. Its cable bill of materials alone includes six major cable types, covering over 800 kilometres of 33 kV medium‑voltage circuits. Chinese manufacturers are already exporting large volumes of PV1‑F solar cables to Kenya. Engineered for photovoltaic systems, these cables deliver UV‑resistance, weather resistance and broad temperature tolerance. At the 2026 Africa Power and Energy Show, Far East Cable showcased solar‑PV and energy‑storage cable solutions tailored to East Africa’s hot and dusty operating conditions.

Subsea / underwater cables constitute another noteworthy emerging segment. The Government of Uganda has secured a loan of UGX 32 billion from the African Development Bank to build Lake Victoria’s first 7‑kilometre subsea power cable, connecting the Ssese Islands (Kalangala district) to the national grid. The project is being executed by CCC BEIJING INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CO. LTD. Underwater‑cable options across Lake Tanganyika are also under discussion for the Tanzania‑DRC power‑interconnection scheme. Subsea cables carry high technical barriers and higher added value, alongside substantial market‑entry hurdles.

There is steady demand for mine‑site and industrial special‑purpose cables. For instance, the N’Djamena Refinery, a joint venture between CNPC and Chad’s national oil company, requires cabling for power delivery nationwide once the refinery and its associated power station go into operation. Mining, manufacturing and petrochemical projects across East Africa create sustained requirements for abrasion‑resistant, high‑temperature‑resistant and flame‑retardant special cables.

IV. Market Outlook and Export Recommendations

In terms of overall market size, Africa’s wire‑and‑cable market was valued at approximately USD 3.45 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4.06 billion by 2031. Within this, East Africa’s distribution‑line market is expected to expand at a 3.8 % compound annual growth rate through 2035. The African medium‑voltage cable and accessories market is forecast to register a 6‑8 % CAGR over 2026‑2035.

The window of opportunity for East‑African power‑infrastructure development is now open. For Chinese cable‑export firms, competitive advantage in this infrastructure wave will go to players that respond quickly to market needs, deliver well‑matched product portfolios, and efficiently complete certification and order fulfilment.