Mwaniki Wahome
11 October 2008
Nairobi — Establishment of a Kenya Energy Council is among a raft of resolutions made at the close of the National Energy Conference to steer the country away from sliding into darkness in a few years.
Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi said the council, when set up, will work out a comprehensive action plan for expansion of energy sources in the next 20 years.
Grappling with looming energy crisis, the government also announced that the energy conference will be held every year to review progress of agreed upon action plans.
The multi-sectoral council will comprise experts, researchers and scholars and other stakeholders. It will be an advisory group that will monitor implementation of power projects as well as organise the annual energy conference.
"This is not another talk shop after which we go back to business as usual. We are committed to implementation of the resolutions of the conference and this will be reviewed every year," Mr Kiraitu said.
A task force will also be formed to review the Energy Act with the aim of harmonising and expanding it to accommodate new power sources like nuclear, wind, biofuels and solar energy.
The conference also resolved that there was urgency in reducing the cost of energy for Kenya's manufactured products to be competitive on the regional and international markets.
Kenya will also encourage investment through offering incentives and explore innovative financing schemes through the stock market, independent power producers and competitive borrowing.
However financial experts warn that the current credit crunch sweeping across America, Europe and Asia would make borrowing more expensive from external sources.The Ministry of Energy will act as a one-stop-shop for potential investors to facilitate faster application for projects.
The government will undertake research and encourage adoption of modern technology in energy production.
Among measures lined up are the establishment of a body responsible for renewable energy even as the government toys with the idea of establishing a nuclear plant.
The new move is expected to result in expanded use of geothermal, wind, solar and biofuels as Kenya expands use of mixed sources of power.
The country's installed capacity is 1,215MW against peak demand of 1,150MW. The reserve is way below the international margin of 15 per cent. Kenya intends to borrow experiences from other countries like Mauritius which produces 40 per cent of power by use of sugar cane.
Also in the pipeline is the intended establishment of a nuclear plant, with Mr Kiraitu saying an investor was keen on taking up the opportunity.
Experts, however, say that the plant cannot be able to start contributing to the national grid in less than 10 years even if construction was to commence this year.
"It might take even 20 years but it is worth the investment because of its high yield of power," said Dr Moses Ikiara, the executive director of Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said the government intended to increase the number of nuclear scientists in the next seven years and underscored the determination to have a nuclear plant as soon as possible.
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