Sh2.6 billion new power project to be operational in 15 months

Energy CS Charles Keter, Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma speak during commissioning of a sh2.6 billion power sub station at Ongeng' in Homa Bay county. BY JAMES OMORO

The Government has launched a Sh2.6 billion power project at Ongeng’ to serve the South Nyanza region.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter and Governor Cyprian Awiti said the Homa Bay power sub-station will be completed in 15 months time.

Mr Keter said the sub-station, which will improve the quality and reliability of electricity in the region was part of the Sondu–Homa Bay–Awendo project.

It involves the construction of 106km 132kV single circuit line from Sondu through Ndhiwa to Awendo.

The project being undertaken by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) through a Belgium contractor has a rating of 72MW and two 132/33kV sub-stations at Sondu and Ndhiwa and an extension of 132kV at Awendo sub-station in Migori.

Keter said the project was part of the Government’s commitment to increase electricity accessibility in rural areas by 40 per cent by 2030.

“There will be no more power outages in Nyanza. We want to see robust industries including fish processing plants by the shores of Lake Victoria, because, power disruptions, which have been a problem will be history,” he said.

Ketraco officials  were told to fast track the compensation of families to be affected by the sub-station.

The CS assured the governor that the national government will license a Sh8 billion solar power generation project at Nyakwere Hills, which has been slowed down by new set regulations by the Electricity Regulatory Authority.

Also present were Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and County Commissioner Kassim Farrah.

Stalled growth

Mr Awiti, Mr Kaluma and Mr Farrah said power disruptions in Southern Nyanza had suppressed the region’s economic growth since independence.

“I want to invite investors who feared Homa Bay because of electricity problems to come now, because we are bidding goodbye to black-outs,” said Awiti.

County Energy Executive Pharesh Ratego said the flagship project that is expected to inject 40 mega watts of power into the national grid was behind schedule, because, the regulatory authority wanted it delayed to 2023.

Awiti had earlier asked Keter to intervene and help the county in the Power Purchase Agreement negotiations for the project, saying the investors were ready to start work.

Start work

“I will ensure the project is cleared so that the investors can start work. I will issue a directive on this,” said Keter.

He threatened to sack officers concerned with the connection of electricity to primary schools in the county for lagging behind schedule.

“Some people will have to go home for sleeping on the job. Out of the 878 primary schools in Homa Bay that ought to have been connected, only 645 have been done. I will need answers from the officers or I send them home,” he said.

The function was also attended by Ketraco Chairman Kenneth Sigilai and Chief Executive Officer Fernandes Barasa.