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Additional transmission lines to support geothermal development in Kenya

Additional transmission lines to support geothermal development in Kenya Transmission infrastructure at Menengai, Kenya (source: Agence ecofin)
Alexander Richter 18 Apr 2016

Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) will need up to $3 billion in funding for up to 7,000 km of new electricity lines in Kenya.

News from Kenya report, that Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) will receive $25 million in the 2015/ 2016 fiscal year.

Under Under its five-year strategic plan, it requires $3 billion  to construct 7,000 Kilometers of new electricity lines.

New transmission infrastructure will be built to support the connection of 1,646 MW of geothermal and 630 MW of solar power to the national grid in the next five years, according to Managing Director Fernandes Barasa.

“The aim is to increase the proportion of renewable energy in our power mix,” Barasa said, noting that the East African nation wants to reduce its reliance of diesel power generators in remote areas. “This will help the country to reduce the overall cost of electricity,” he said.

 

To finance the planned transmission lines, KETRACO will seek funding from internal and external revenue sources.

The new lines planned by the company are to help open up geographical areas without access to the national grid.

Source: Coast Week