Kenya Power to enhance partnership with KAM to lower manufacturers’ energy costs
Kenya Power has renewed its commitment to partner with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) to carry out regular energy audits among manufacturers to maximize production efficiency.
The move is meant to encourage the growth of the manufacturing sector by lowering the cost of manufacturing which is expected to reduce the price of locally manufactured products and encourage more investments in manufacturing.
In addition to the energy audits, Kenya Power has also committed to providing least-cost energy to industries through optimizing the energy mix and investing in expanding and strengthening of the distribution network to improve the quality and reliability of power supply.
“The Company recognizes efforts made by KAM in championing energy efficiency initiatives among its members and we are keen on partnering in keeping costs low. We aim at providing least-cost energy to our industries by deferring non-effective commitments for intermittent renewables and introduce flexible generation in the mix,” said Kenya Power’s Managing Director & CEO Dr. Ken Tarus.
Dr. Tarus was speaking today at the Kenya Sustainable Energy Day CEO’s forum organized by KAM ahead of the Energy Management Awards. He added that the Company will continue updating and automating its infrastructure to increase access to electricity for socio-economic transformation and achievement of the national Big 4 Action Plan.
“The Company is committed to dispatching more renewable energy to maintain the fuel cost charge low and retail tariff competitive. I believe that with the available opportunities, we will be able to work together to make Kenya a manufacturing hub for Africa,” he said.
In the last five years, Kenya Power’s distribution network has expanded in size and capacity as a result of the various projects the Company has undertaken. Kenya Power is currently operating 79,001 kilometers of high and medium voltage lines compared to 49,818 kilometers that were in place in 2013.
Similarly, the length of the distribution lines has increased from 110,778 kilometers in 2015 to the current 148,724 kilometers while the capacity of distribution substations has grown from 5,878MVA in 2013 to 9,203MVA as at the end of the last financial year.
Kenya Power is currently undertaking the KShs.13 billion Nairobi Underground Cabling project which is aimed at improving power supply around the city and its environs. The project involves installation of underground cables and construction of a substation at the city center that will serve customers around Industrial area and adjacent areas.
The Company has also upgraded 36 substations and installed smart meters to large power customers at a cost of $562 million funded by Kenya Power and the World Bank under the Kenya Electricity Modernization Project (KEMP), among other projects.
The continued investments have led to a general improvement in the performance of the network leading to improved quality and reliability of power supply.
