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Kenya’s energy sector landscape – overview from interview with Joan Chahenza, KenGen

Kenya’s energy sector landscape – overview from interview with Joan Chahenza, KenGen Construction of Olkaria V geothermal power plant, Kenya Oct. 2018 (source: LinkedIn/ Roberto Razo)
Alexander Richter 3 Aug 2019

In a recent interview with Mining Review, Joan Chahenza, KenGen’s Chief Financial Analyst & Technical Assistant to the Corporate & Regulatory Services Director provides insights into the energy landscape in Kenya and the Pink Energy gender initiative of KenGen.

In a recent interview with Joan Chahenza, Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KenGen)’s Chief Financial Analyst & Technical Assistant to the Corporate & Regulatory Services Director talks about her experience on working on the negotiation for the Power Purchase Agreement for the new Olkaria V geothermal power plant, as well as gender issues in Kenya and beyond.

She also provides a good overview on the energy landscape and key stakeh0lders in developping oportunities in the Kenyan energy market.

“Kenya currently has an installed power capacity of 2,732MW with KenGen contributing 61% (1,630MW) and IPPs contributing the difference. (now with an additional 79/ 86 MW of capacity with Olkaria V unit 1 being online).

The Ministry of Energy (MoE) is responsible for policy and planning within the sector. Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) is the single offtaker for grid connected power with distribution and retail functions.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), now referred to as the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), is the sector regulator.

Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) is in charge of high voltage transmission development for lines above 132kV. Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is an entity that focuses on large power generation, while Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) focuses on rural sector electrification.

Geothermal Development Company (GDC) oversees early geothermal steam development while the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) develops framework and implementation of the national nuclear power development programme with a view to introducing nuclear power within the power subsector.

Other key electricity sector reforms and strategies include the Feed-in-Tariff policy (FiT 2008), Solar PV and Solar Thermal Regulations (2012), Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy (Energy Management Regulations 2012), Universal Access of Electricity by 2020 and the FiT (2008, 2012) and Energy Act 2019.

The Energy Act 2019 replaces the Energy Regulatory Commission with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) which is the licensing authority for the generation, exportation, importation, transmission, distribution and retail supply of electricity within Kenya.

EPRA is also charged with designating the System Operator that will operate the national control centre and be responsible for matching consumer requirements. The act also creates the following new bodies, agency, and committees: i.e. Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, Nuclear Power & Energy Agency, and Renewable Energy Resource Advisory Committee.

The new Energy Act 2019 provides for Open Access for the transmission and distribution systems, creation of consolidated fund and creation of the net metering regulatory framework, among others.”

For the full interview see link below.

Source: Mining Review