Agency generating Sh430m in revenue from Garissa Solar Power plant

Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) Chairman Prof. Simon Gicharu. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

The newly established Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) has announced that the Garissa Solar Power plant that has an installed capacity of 54.64 megawatts.

It is set to generate more than Sh431 million in revenue from the sale of power to Kenya Power.

Chairman Prof. Simon Gicharu said that following the transition of Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to REREC after the presidential ascension of the Energy Act, 2019, REREC has more responsibility and a bigger mandate from the previous five to over ten mandates.

''We now have to oversee rural electricity programme, manage rural  electrification programme fund, establish  Energy Centres in all the 47 counties ,develop and update  the renewable  energy master plan while accounting for equity in the development of renewable  energy  resources among others,'' Prof Gicharu said.

Gicharu made the remarks on Monday while officiating at the opening of REREC board and management retreat meeting that started at the Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort Convention Centre and Spa, Mombasa County.

''The new financial year has come with good tidings with the Garissa Solar Power plant which is operational currently producing Sh431, 646 million,'' he said.

Gicharu announced that with an expanded mandate his board is expressing the need to employ 165 new staff in order to build capacity and to strengthen current position as a corporation.

Gicharu reiterated that they will give leadership and endeavour to restructure the corporation with the aim to best reflect on in our mandate.

He announced that they will strengthen their research division in order to continue and acquire more innovative, world class best practices to achieve energy conservation.

Gicharu at the sametime said that they will further engage the citizens as well as the Kenyan government on creation of condusive policies in order to achieve noble task of sustainability in renewable energy.

Vandalism

On power installation vandalism, Gicharu said that Kenya was losing upto sh 300 million annual from acts of vandalism on electrical installations across the board.

''Time has come through the 47 energy centres where the community shall be involved to try and eradicate vandalism .The era of criminalising vandalism should be a thing of the past once we have the community fully embracing power projects themselves,'' he said.

REREC CEO, Mr Peter Mbugua said that as a matter of urgency, they shall be focusing on immediate rebranding  to ensure that the Kenyan population is well versed with the work and mandate of REREC.

''As a new entity coming with expanded mandate, we shall also relook at budgetary allocation to make the corporation more viable and able to respond to daily needs of the community which we are to serve with dedication,'' Mbugua said.