Ketraco to invest KES81bn in power transmission infrastructure

Over the next three years, Kenya Electricity Transmission Co (Ketraco) plans to fund KES81bn (US$878.5m) of power transmission infrastructure as it is due to embark on 20 projects across the country.

Once completed, the transmission lines will improve power transmission in the East African state, according to Joel Kiilu, Ketraco’s CEO.

“Over the next two to three years, we have planned the completion of projects worth US$900m. The transmission lines will cumulatively be 2600km long,” he said.

Among the programme’s key projects is a high-voltage line running between Mombasa and Isinya. Scheduled for completion in March 2013, the 400kV line is viewed as essential in bringing excess capacity from the coastal area to Nairobi. At present, inadequate infrastructure prevents Nairobi to benefit from the excess thermal generation capacity installed along the coast. “There is excess generation in the coastal region. However, the current power transmission lines cannot be used to evacuate this capacity to Nairobi,” he said.

He added that the Mombasa-Isinya-Embakasi line would cost KES14bn. It will be co-funded by African Development Bank, European Investment Bank and Agence Française de Développement. The government has set aside KES980m for us in land acquisition for the line. Construction works will be undertaken by Indian contractor Kalpataru.