Bamburi Cement has held high-level talks with Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) to address power reliability concerns at its Mombasa plant, as Kenya’s manufacturing sector grapples with energy infrastructure constraints that threaten industrial competitiveness.

The meeting, which took place at Bamburi’s coastal plant, brought together the cement maker’s CEO Geoffrey Ndugwa and KPLC managing director Joseph Siror, alongside senior leadership from both organisations. 

Discussions focused on practical measures to strengthen grid stability and operational resilience for one of the region’s largest industrial power consumers.

Bamburi, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based Holcim Group, is one of Kenya’s most significant industrial electricity users. Its reliance on uninterrupted supply is critical to maintaining continuous manufacturing operations at the Coast, where the company operates its main clinker and cement production lines.

The engagement underscores growing concerns among industrialists over power quality and reliability, particularly in the Coast region, where businesses have increasingly cited voltage fluctuations and outages as constraints on production capacity.

“Reliable energy infrastructure is fundamental to the growth and competitiveness of industry,” Mr Ndugwa said in a statement following the meeting. “Our engagement with KPLC provides an important platform to explore practical solutions that can strengthen power reliability, improve operational resilience and support sustainable industrial growth.”

The talks come at a time when Kenya’s manufacturing sector is seeking to expand its contribution to GDP, a key pillar of the government’s economic transformation agenda. However, energy costs and supply stability remain persistent headwinds, with industrial consumers often bearing the brunt of transmission losses and system inefficiencies.

Kenya Power, which distributes electricity to millions of customers across the country, has faced mounting pressure to improve service delivery amid rising complaints from commercial and industrial users.

The utility has been implementing network upgrades and meter replacement programmes aimed at reducing system losses and enhancing power quality.

Dr Siror acknowledged the importance of partnerships with large consumers in maintaining grid reliability. 

“Strong partnerships with major industrial customers such as Bamburi Cement are critical to strengthening the reliability and quality of electricity supply,” he said. “As the Coast region continues to attract investment and expand its industrial base, we recognise the importance of ensuring that our network is able to support this growth.”

Kenya's Coast region continues to emerge as a strategic industrial hub, with significant investments in manufacturing, logistics and port-related infrastructure. 

The ongoing expansion of the Mombasa port and associated special economic zones has heightened demand for reliable power to support industrial operations and attract new investment.

However, the region’s electricity network has historically faced challenges, including ageing infrastructure and supply constraints linked to transmission capacity from the national grid. 

These issues have at times forced manufacturers to resort to expensive backup diesel generation, increasing operational costs and undermining competitiveness.

Neither Bamburi nor KPLC provided specific details on the measures discussed during the meeting or committed to a timeline for implementation. However, both parties agreed to maintain ongoing engagement to identify opportunities that could contribute to a more reliable power supply.

Kenya’s energy regulator, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has been implementing tariff reviews and quality-of-service standards designed to hold utilities accountable for power delivery. Industrial consumers have increasingly used these frameworks to push for improvements in service levels.

Bamburi has in recent years invested in alternative energy sources, including the use of biomass and other renewable fuels at its plants, as part of efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and energy costs. However, grid electricity remains the primary power source for its manufacturing operations.

KPLC has been under investor and regulatory scrutiny over its financial performance and operational metrics. The utility reported improved profitability in its recent interim results, but continues to contend with transmission losses and the financial burden of power purchase agreements with independent producers.

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