GARISSA—Garissa County is set to host a solar power plant to be constructed by the Chinese government in an agreement entered into with its Kenyan counterpart. The plant, whose details remain scanty, will have a capacity to produce 50-megawatts
Speaking in Nairobi, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, Liu said the project would be funded by Chinese Export-Import Bank.
Mr Liu stated that the project was previously delayed by technical setbacks, but was now ready to start owing to preliminary agreement with the Kenyan energy ministry.
“There has been setbacks to the ambitious project by both sides for a while, but we have now reached a preliminary agreement to invest in an area with low energy,” he told reporters in Nairobi.
Mr Liu said that the china-based Export-Import Bank would provide concessional loans to Kenya in a bid to complete the energy project without financial setbacks.
“The project is still under plan and I expect that there will be a launching ceremony on site very soon,” he assured.
Ambassador Liu said the project would significantly boost energy supply in the area and provide employment opportunity to Garissa residents.
“I believe the jobs that will come with the project will deter local youths from joining terrorist groups,” he said.
Mr Liu said he was aware of the security challenges in the area following frequent attacks by the Somalia armed group Al Shabab, but said the challenged could be resolved through partnership with the government and the local community.
The envoy termed Kenya as a heaven for energy investment owing to its better legal regime.
According to government statistics, China investment in the country is worth an estimated sh 55 billion annually.
