KPRL to commission Sh1.12b power plant

By Philip Mwakio

Kenya Petroleum Oil Refinery Ltd is set to commission a nine megawatt power plant later in the year.

Speaking at the refinery complex on Tuesday after receiving the main component of the plant, Kenya Petroleum Oil Refinery Limited (KPRL) CEO Bimal Mukherjee said plans were underway to have the project commissioned in June.

"The facility will run on heavy fuel oil, which will be pumped directly from the refinery,’’ said Mukherjee.

Mr Mukherjee, who was flanked by KPRL General Manager John Mruttu, said the power plant model is designed for base load (continuous operations) and will run parallel with the grid.

He said since the refinery’s inception in 1963, they have relied on electric power from the national grid, which suffers from frequent interruptions.

"The number of power interruptions has been increasing steadily in the last 10 years, currently averaging 45 interruptions per year,’’ he said.

"These interruptions result in lower plant reliability, higher operations and maintainance costs and potentially unsafe operations.’’

The power plant project is worth Sh1.12 billion ($13 million).

"The building of a dedicated power plant at the refinery will resolve the issue of external power supply interruptions, which have recently caused production problems," he added.

KPRL supplies 40 per cent of the local demand but is unable to meet demand due to inconsistent power supply, equipment failure, and poor technology.