Kenya plugs power supply deficit via Uganda imports

What you need to know:

  • Energy Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge said more supply was expected under an ambitious power systems interconnection programme that is currently underway.

Kenya has nearly doubled electricity imports from neighbouring Uganda to plug a precarious supply deficit occasioned by reduced water levels in key dams.

The western neighbour is presently supplying 54 megawatts of electricity up from 30MW during normal hydrology. Along with diesel, hydro and thermal are the two leading sources of electricity sources, with each generating at least one third of the requirements for the country.

The increased imports have been necessitated by the need to continue managing the situation due to low hydrology levels resulting from the failure of long rains.

“Imports from Uganda have been high in the month of May and June to manage the low hydrology situation,” said Mr John Mutua, Energy Regulatory Commission director for economic regulation.

“The peak net import from Uganda was about 54MW in May. It was recorded at about 42MW during peak,” he said in an email response.

More supply expected

Energy Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge said more supply was expected under an ambitious power systems interconnection programme that is currently underway.

“We are synchronising our power transmission lines to Kigali through Uganda and later on Ethiopia. We plan to fully interconnect our power systems and have the latest line by June 2016,” said Mr Njoroge.

Data by Kenya Power shows that the current power mix stands at hydro (33.34 per cent), diesel (33.2 per cent) with geothermal coming third following injection of 70MW in the last week of June.

Commissioning of KenGen’s Olkaria power plants which are undergoing reliability tests will improve the power supply situation while reducing the fuel cost charges. “We will connect 70MW at the end of July. So far, we have connected another 70MW,” said Mr Njoroge.

A month ago, contribution of diesel-powered plants had overtaken the cheaper hydro to account for 42 per cent of the power generation mix.