Power output up by 10pc as Kipevu III plant goes live
What you need to know:
- Speaking during the ceremony, President Kibaki, Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi and other leaders termed the completion of the plant as a milestone in the country’s efforts to attain self-sufficiency in its energy sector
- By the expiry of the Vision 2030 timeline, it is anticipated that more than 90 per cent of Kenya’s population will be connected to power supply, largely from the national grid
- Whereas thermal generation of electricity is currently the most expensive, largely due to high prices of oil in the international market, it would be ideal for Kenya when it starts producing its own oil as anticipated
Kenya’s national power grid is now 115 megawatts richer following the completion and commissioning of a Sh11 billion electricity generation plant at Kipevu in Mombasa.
President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday officially switched on the Kipevu III Thermal Plant, whose output now raises the country’s installed electricity capacity by 10 per cent, bringing it to 1,232 megawatts.
Its planning and construction is part of an energy sector revamping scheme initiated by Kenya Electricity Generation Company with the objective of raising power production to support economic production.
Speaking during the ceremony, President Kibaki, Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi and other leaders termed the completion of the plant as a milestone in the country’s efforts to attain self-sufficiency in its energy sector.
“This plant, which is already generating 115 megawatts of power for supply to the national grid, marks an important development in our energy sector,” the President said.
He added that the project, constructed with funds raised through a local infrastructure bond floated by KenGen three years ago, was a good example of what can be attained through mobilising domestic funds to augment government resources.
Economic blueprint
“Participation of citizens confirms our people’s confidence in infrastructure projects that we are currently implementing,” he said.
Boosting energy production to support industrial growth is a key plank of the Vision 2030 economic blueprint which envisages growth of electricity capacity to 21,000 megawatts in the next 17 years to cater for a projected peak demand of 17,000 megawatts and a reserve of 23 per cent.
By the expiry of the Vision 2030 timeline, it is anticipated that more than 90 per cent of Kenya’s population will be connected to power supply, largely from the national grid.
KenGen intends to raise its total generating capacity to 3,000 megawatts by 2014. This, together with 2,000 megawatts injected by independent power producers, will help address the energy shortfall.
The President said the government’s key strategy was to diversify the electricity generation mix with a focus on green energy sources such as solar, geothermal and wind.
The project was stated in January 2012 was completed in time. (Read: KenGen to open thermal plant)
Whereas thermal generation of electricity is currently the most expensive, largely due to high prices of oil in the international market, it would be ideal for Kenya when it starts producing its own oil as anticipated.
Heavy diesel
Mr Kiraitu said: “Most power generation from oil normally uses heavy diesel, which is a by-product of the oil refining processes, an area in which Kenya is strategically positioning itself.”
The country is also looking at possibilities of generating cheap electricity from natural gas, which is more environmentally friendly, he added.
KenGen’s chief executive officer Eddy Njoroge, who will formally leave office by July next year, described the plant as the largest in East Africa with an inbuilt ability to generate power from natural gas, too.
