Kenya commissions US $130m substation to boost power supply in Nairobi

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has commissioned an ultra-modern 220 Kv gas insulated substation to improve the power supply in Nairobi at a cost of US $130m.

The substation, the first of its kind in East and Central Africa, will handle the power coming from the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station and will create an alternative power chain for the city.The project, will greatly improve the quality of power in Nairobi’s City Centre. It will serve the Industrial area, Mombasa road, Upperhill, the entire Central Business District (CBD), Lower hill and Kilimani area. According to President Kenyatta it creates additional contingency in electricity supply thus enhancing the reliability of power.

Gas Insulated Substations are high voltage substations in which the major structures are contained in a sealed environment. It is reliable, requires little maintenance and is compact.Improved power supply in Nairobi will create a conducive environment for business and industry so that they can create more jobs for Kenyans.

“This initiative feeds into one of the key pillars of the Big Four Agenda, Enhancing Manufacturing, to create quality jobs for Kenyans,” said the PresidentHe added that the Government remains steadfast in supporting ‘Build Kenya Buy Kenya’, to guarantee increased job creation and growth of local industries through the increase of transmission and distribution network for power.

Furthermore, a total of 33,900 km of distribution lines and 69 new substations have been completed over the past five years,” said the President.He added that the government will take measures to control vandalism, a major problem for Kenya’s infrastructure development following reports from CS Keter that vandalism had become one of the big reasons costs of infrastructure development expands after initial plans.

The proportion of geothermal capacity increased to 28.43% from 14.8% in 2013, significantly reducing dependence on generation from expensive diesel power plants. National electricity access is now 74% against 27% in 2013.