Coast will be the biggest beneficiary of the Sh14 billion automation project by the Kenya Power. Kenya Power head of distribution Benson Mureithi said in Mombasa yesterday that the project was complete and will be first commissioned next month. Mureithi spoke during the Kenya Power annual ICT conference. "The Mombasa installation is complete and will be commissioned next month. We have installed a communication system that links up with switches in the field, and a remote control terminal and a motorized switch at the regional control centre in Rabai at the Coast," said Mureithi.

The project, which entails use of a modern automatic system, will improve efficiency in service delivery by cutting down on time consumed to identify and locate faults in the power network. "Power transfer to another will be easy and will save time. Mombasa will be first one to test this and its one of the biggest beneficiary," said Mureithi.

Mombasa network launched in September last year, has been carried out by Lucy Electric Company of the United Kingdom. Mureithi said the project has been funded by international donors including china and the World Bank and will cut down the constant power shortages as vandalism will be monitored effectively. He also added that power distribution plans to the remote parts of the coast region were in top gear with Lamu and Garsen slated to benefit much. "A power line from Rabai all the away to Garsen and then Lamu is underway. We are also targeting Tana delta region and areas of Diani in south coast," said Mureithi. An underground line from Kipevu thorough the port of Mombasa to the north coast is underway. A 220KV power line for Lamu port was also underway.