Kenya’s power output is expected to get a further boost with the addition of a further 70MW to the national grid, as part of the 280MW target placed by Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).
“We added today (Tuesday) at 9am an additional 70MW from Olkaria. This will displace diesel power plants and the fuel cost component in electricity bills will come down,” Business Daily quoted KenGen managing director Albert Mugo, as saying.
Kenya has been working on scaling up its power, exploring multiple sources of power generation, including solar and nuclear power. The East African economic powerhouse had drilled one of World’s biggest geothermal wells at Olkaria, south of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley region, with the capacity to produce 280 MW of electricity.
[eap_ad_1]
An initial 70 MW had been added to the national for testing earlier in the year, followed by a further 70 MW in April. 70MW out of the remaining 140MW has now been added to the national grid, with the remaining to be added in November. Kenya’s total installed electricity capacity is expected to stand at 1,880 MW after the 280 MW has been added.
Energy secretary Davies Chirchir said the country was hoping to save “about Sh28 billion per year in fuel cost charges when the final 70MW comes online in November.”
Mugo had earlier in the year said generating power from geo-thermal steam can make it possible for power to cost as low as two cents. This he said will make it possible for Kenyans to access cheaper electricity, which will in turn foster economic growth and development.
Kenya is one of two countries (including Ethiopia) that produce geothermal energy in Africa. (VENTURES AFRICA)
[eap_ad_4]
