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Olkaria industrial development getting boost with railway development

Olkaria industrial development getting boost with railway development Railway lines, Kenya (source: flickr/Luca Esposti, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 22 Sep 2015

A contract has been signed for the construction of a railway line from Nairobi to Naivasha, which will be a big boost for development plans for an industrial zone near the geothermal power plants at Olkaria, Kenya.

Earlier this year we reported on a planned railway connection between Kenya’s capital Nairobi with Naivasha in close proximity to the geothermal plants of Olkaria.

The railway connection would provide a great incentive for investments and settlement of companies in the planned industrial zone in Naivasha.

So this past Saturday, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta witnessed the signing of a contract that will pave the way for the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Nairobi to Naivasha.

Speaking in Embakasi, Nairobi, Uhuru emphasised the need for the contractor to increase local content in the project in terms of materials, equipment and labour.

“It is necessary that the project uses local content as much as possible and only imports when what is required cannot be obtained in the country,” Uhuru said.

Uhuru had earlier presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the SGR Nairobi terminus.

The extension of the SGR will open up Naivasha – the country’s geothermal production centre – for increased economic activities, especially farming.

Construction of the SGR from Mombasa to Nairobi is scheduled to be completed by June 2017.

The Commercial Contract for the construction of Phase 2A of the Nairobi–Naivasha SGR was signed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBR) Chairman Wen Gang and Kenya Railways Managing Director Atanas Maina during the Cabinet Steering Committee on SGR meeting chaired by Uhuru.

Uhuru asked CRBC to train and employ many youth to ensure that the project will continue running efficiently even after it is handed over to the Government.

 

Source: The Star