Power imports from region rise by 79pc

Visiting German Vice Chancellor Dr Robert Habeck (C) joins senior government officers and a high powered delegation of investors in a tour of the geothermal rich area of Olkaria, Naivasha on 2nd December 2024. He said that Germany would support the country in its expertise in production of geothermal and solar energy. [Photo, Antony Gitonga]

Kenya's electricity imports from neighbouring countries have continued to rise despite the availability of geothermal energy, which is considered cheap and readily available.

According to the 20204-25 report from Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra), the imports rose by over 79 per cent in the last year from Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.

The move to import electricity in the period affected geothermal production, which fell by over five per cent with the country relying on the imports.

The Authority has attributed the rise in electricity imports to the full commercial operation of the Ethiopia Electricity Power (EEP) contract, which began in December 2023

"Electricity imports increased by 79.41 per cent from 419.13 GWh in a similar period in the previous financial year to 751.95 GWh during the review period," the report says.

The report further indicated that the country imports 200MW from EEP Company, Uganda Electricity Transmission Company and Tanzania Electricity Supply Company.

"These energy exchange contracts allow Kenya to obtain competitively priced renewable energy from its neighbors while increasing the interconnected grid reliability."

The imports, according to Epra, accounted for 10.41 per cent of the country's energy mix.

The highest energy imports were recorded in November at 134.18 GWh, while the lowest occurred in July at 106.11GWh.

And as the imports were rising, geothermal generation declined, with the report indicating that in the period 2,875.33 GWh of energy was generated from geothermal energy resources.

"This accounted for 39.81 percent of energy supplied to the interconnected grid and the highest geothermal energy generation occurred in November, reaching 495.31 GWh, while the lowest was recorded in September at 455.23 GWh."

"Geothermal energy generation in the period decreased by 5.17 percent from 3,032.03 GWh and the decrease is attributed to increased electricity imports," said the authority.

Epra Director General Daniel Kiptoo said as economic activities expanded, energy utilisation across the country saw a notable increase compared to last year.

He added that the country had witnessed encouraging trends in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption in line with the government's commitment to implementing the LPG growth strategy.

"LPG demand increased by 13.38 per cent and it's expected to rise as the government advances the growth strategy, focusing on promoting its use in schools and hospitals," Kiptoo said.