Connect with us

About Wajir Times

Why Northeastern residents are set to enjoy cheap power from September

Published

on

The price of electricity is set to go down from September as Kenya’s largest renewable energy plant in Garissa is set to be completed.(Courtesy)

By Kevin Kyalo

GARISSA—The price of electricity is set to go down from September as Kenya’s largest renewable energy plant is set to be completed.

The Garissa solar project, the largest solar plant in East and Central Africa that is situated in Raya,Sankuri division, Balambala sub-county is set to be finalized in September, a revision from December.

“We are ahead of schedule and by September it will be on the grid and will then push the cost of power down to 5.4 cents per unit,” noted Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter.

“This project is a break  from over-reliance on hydroelectric and geothermal power, ” he added.

He noted that the plant will go a long way in helping to lessen the carbon footprint by reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere by about 43,000 tonnes.

The power plant project is also set to improve electricity generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, savings in foreign exchange on importation of fuel for power generation and be a significant contributor to the government target of lower cost of power

The government will also expand the project to other neighboring counties of Wajir and Mandera. This will offer employment to the locals besides boosting the national grid.

The Sh. 13.5 billion solar project lies on an 80 acre piece of land which consists of 300,000 solar panels capable of lighting over 600,000 homes.

The project  is funded  by Chinese Export-Import Bank and construction is being done by the China Jiangxi International Kenya Ltd engineers.

The Solar plant is part of a long term project under the vision 2030.

Comments

Your comments here:

error

Share it with your friends