Kenya's KenGen unveils new power projects

Electricity generating company, KenGen, plans to invest in an additional capacity of 500 MW by 2012 as part of efforts to diversify its power sources. According to KenGen managing director, Eddy Njoroge, the company plans to invest in new geothermal, thermal, and wind power generation projects.
"This is in keeping with KenGen's strategy of diversifying the power sources to reduce dependence on hydro, which suffers when the rainfall is below expectations," said Mr Njoroge after the recent commissioning of the Sondu Miriu hydropower station by President Kibaki.

Among investments in the pipeline include the Kipevu 3 thermal, which is a 120 MW project expected to be complete by October 2010, and a 5 MW wind project to be ready by December 2009.
He said KenGen expects to generate additional power from various geothermal projects by 2012. They include, Olkaria II third unit (35 MW by May 2010), Eburu (3 MW by December 2010), and Olkaria 4 (140 MW by 2012).

Mr Njoroge said the company is committed to playing its role of stabilising the power supply in Kenya by investing in additional power generation capacity.
"The investments will enable us to ensure there is enough additional and affordable capacity to cope with the rising demand, anticipated at 8 % annually," he said.

The investment in additional generation capacity will not only help the country cope with additional demand, but also go towards the implementation of Vision 2030. The country, which is currently experiencing an energy crisis due to insufficient rainfall, has a real demand of 1,172 MW against an effective capacity of 1,289 MW during average hydrology.
The capacity is spread as 719 MW hydro, 163 MW geothermal and 407 MW thermal power.