Kenya Electricity Generating Company Plc (KenGen) has boosted the government’s plan to replace thermal power with clean energy, by pumping an additional 165 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.
This came as the power generation firm said the Olkaria V power plant will be commissioned next month. Consumers will, however, have to wait longer to benefit from lower electricity charges.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter said the two units of the plant were contributing a 165MW from the facility currently under trial.
Mr Keter said the government was keen to replace the expensive thermal power with geothermal. “Ahead of its commissioning Olkaria V is already producing 165MW but the process of bringing down the cost of electricity will take longer,” he said.
He noted that the State was keen to explore more geothermal power in Naivasha, adding that plans were underway for the construction of Olkaria VI.
“The evaluation process for the 140MW geothermal power plant is complete and we are now going into the tendering process,” he said. The CS was addressing the Press in Olkaria after hosting a delegation of Ugandan MPs and officials. He said Kenya receives 50MW of hydro-power from Uganda at subsidised rates.
Robust leadership and management at KenGen under CEO Rebecca Miano has seen the state corporation continue on the path to profitability with half years earnings almost double at Ksh8.2 billion in 2019 from Sh4.12 billion reported in the similar period of 2018.
Uganda’s Energy and Mineral Development Minister Mary Kitutu said her country was keen to learn about Kenya’s geothermal exploration.
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