Implementing Agencies:
Independent Power Producers, the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Geothermal Development Company and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
Summary
The interconnected system in Kenya had a total effective capacity of 2,298MW as at October 2015 with suppressed peak power demand of 1,763MW recorded in October 2014. This comprised of 790MW hydro, 557MW geothermal, 613MW thermal, 5MW wind and 22MW co-generation. The existing transmission network consists of 1331km of 220kV line and 2343km of 132kV line. National electrification is approximately 33 per cent.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has committed to generate and distribute 5000 plus MW in the next 40 months. The Ministry had a target of generating 540MW and 393MW in the 2013/2014 and 2014/15 financial years respectively. 61 per cent of the 5,538MW was expected to be from renewable sources. This energy plan was expected to bring down the cost of power to below 10 US cents from the current average cost of 17.92 US cents per kilowatt hour for domestic households. Over time, there has been a notable drop in the cost of electricity by 37 per cent.
The generation projection for the 40 months plan incorporates the following geothermal projects:
- Olkaria wellhead (70MW) and Menengai 90MW which was to be completed by March 2016.
- Olkaria V (140MW) and Menengai (100MW) which was to be completed by October 2018.
- Menengai (50MW) and Suswa (50MW) to be completed by June 2016.
- Menengai (100MW), Baringo (200MW), Olkaria VI (140MW), and Suswa (100MW) by December 2016.
Olkaria IV geothermal power plant was launched in Naivasha on October 17, 2014 by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta. Commissioning of Olkaria I (140MW) was done on February 19, 2015 by the President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame, in the presence of H.E. President Kenyatta.
Achievements
- Increased energy availability through expansion of power generation capacity
Progress has been made towards increasing energy generation of 5,528 MW in the next 40 months. - Reduction of electricity cost from 15 US cents to 10 US cents.
- Reduction of connectivity charges from Ksh.35,000 to Ksh.15,000.
- One million customers are being connected per year.
- Over 280 MW delivered so far under the geothermal program.
- Wind power – progress at Lake Turkana, Kipetu, Ngong.
- Coal power – contract awarded for coal power plant at Lamu