Recognizing the potential benefit from developing a regional power pool, the Energy Ministers from seven (7) Eastern Africa countries, namely: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Sudan signed an Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding (IGMOU) for the establishment of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) on February 24, 2005.

The signature of the  IGMOU was followed by the signature of an Inter-Utility MOU by the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)/Managing Directors of the countries’ nine (9) Power Utilities. This event heralded the formal launching of EAPP. Tanzania has consequently signed the relevant MOUs in March 2010 and became the member of EAPP.

In a further development, the Eastern Africa power pool was further adopted by Heads of State and Government at the 11th Summit of COMESA in Djibouti in November, 2006 as a specialized institution of COMESA for electrical power for Eastern Africa. The overall objective is to facilitate regional integration and hence to realize sustainable growth and development.