Business Daily (Nairobi)
Steve Mbogo
20 February 2008
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company is lighting up homes in Tana River and Wajir South through new electricity-generating diesel engines.
Targeted are areas locked out of the national electricity grid - whose bulk of power is generated from hydro and geothermal resources.
The diesel power project has been established at a cost of Sh345 million provided by the Government through the Ministry of Energy under the Rural Electrification Programme, while KPLC marketing and customer service staff are on the ground working closely with residents to ensure connection is convenient and fast.
Access to electricity in these areas will spur a range of small business activities which will contribute to improving living standards of the people.
About 10,000 people are expected to benefit from the new initiative by lighting homes and institutions as well as powering small scale enterprises.
In addition to residential connections, other facilities that have been connected include government administration offices, health, education and recreation facilities, and businesses.
KPLC Chief Engineer in charge of Off-Grid power stations, Henry Gichungi, said the three projects are part of seven new diesel power stations being installed by the Government at an estimated cost of Sh886 million in parts of Kenya that are not served by the national grid.
The other three, whose construction will be finalised this year, are Elwak in Mandera South, Mfangano Island in Suba District, Baragoi in Samburu North District, and the upgrading of the Mpeketoni power plant in Lamu district.
Of the six, said Mr Gichungi, Mfangano power station will have the largest generator with a capacity of 1.5 megawatts, while Merti, Habaswein and Elwak stations will eventually generate one megawatt when all machines are installed. Mpeketoni power station, which will also serve the historic Witu town situated about 40 kilometres away near the Kenya-Somali border, will have an installed capacity of 600 kilowatts.
Completion of the six new stations will bring the number of KPLC Off-Grid Power Stations to 11. The existing ones are Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Lodwar and Moyale.
Owing to growth in demand for power in Mandera and Moyale towns, KPLC last year enhanced generation capacity at the power stations at a cost of Sh67 million. The Lodwar power station is currently being upgraded at a cost of Sh30 million. Besides meeting the demand, the upgrades are aimed at improving quality of supply, reducing outages and enhancing customer satisfaction.
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