Kenya has commissioned the Nairobi City Centre 220/66kV Gas Insulated station (GIS) substation, which is intended to boost the City’s Bulk power supply system.
Image: Officials during the launch of new substation in Kenya. Photo: courtesy of Ministry of Energy.
The substation has been inaugurated by Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta.
This is part of the Government’s Nairobi City Centre Network Upgrade and Reinforcement Project aimed at improving the quality of power in the city and its environs by providing alternative supply to the existing substations.
President Kenyatta said the Government is committed increasing the transmission and distribution network for power
“The KShs.13 billion project, will greatly improve the quality of power in Nairobi’s City Centre, serving the Industrial area, Mombasa road, Upperhill, the entire Central Business District (CBD), Lower hill and Kilimani area,”
The President was accompanied by his deputy William Ruto, Cabinet Secretaries Charles Keter (Energy) andFarida Karoney (Lands) to the state of the art Nairobi substation in industrial area that uses advanced technology making it one of a Kind in East Africa region.
The project will have an additional 66kV sub-transmission underground lines that will connect the new substation to the existing 66/11kV substations within and around the City Centre.
The city centre substastion is located at the hub of the city’s industrial area, a strategic position that will benefit industries and investors in the area who will enjoy reliable and uninterrupted power supply.
The City Centre substation will go a long way in powering the Manufacturing pillar of the Big four Agenda as it is expected to improve the reliability and stability of power in industrial area and the Central Business District (CBD).
This will improve reliability of power in the city as a result of use of underground cables as compared to overhead lines.
Underground cable system is cheaper because it reduces the cost of land acquisition and related challenges and will eliminate system dips associated to weather conditions.
The substation, the first of its kind in East and Central Africa, will handle the power coming from the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station and will create an alternative power chain for the city.
Mr Keter said the Government is keen on improving the quality of energy in the country a move aimed at supporting the implementation of the big four government agenda.
He said: “We are working towards improving power services in the country. Without reliable power we cannot realize the big four development agenda.”
The Energy Cabinet Secretary said the Ministry of Energy is working with the relevant stakeholders to implement a single power tariff.
Mr Keter, at the same time, appealed to relevant authorities to deal with those vandalizing energy infrastructure an act that was derailing serve delivery.
According to Liu Xin, the General Manager of TBEA CO. LTD the company that built the substation, the substation adopted the most advanced technology and smart systems.
He said the substation will boost the power supply in the city by reducing power interruption.
Mr Xin said: “This is the biggest substation in East Africa region. It will minimize power interruption in Nairobi City.
He said the firm will do more of such modern substations in the country to improve the national power supply.
According to the Chinese Economic and Commercial Counsellor Guo Ce, the substation is financed by Chinese government through a concessional loan from the Exim Bank of China.
Mr Guo Ce said the delivery of this substation will improve the power supply to the business and manufacturing activities in Nairobi.
Mr. Guo Ce said: “The substation is important for continuous power not only for cbd but also the indusrial park nearby”
Mr Xin said the Gas Insulated Substation Technology at this high voltage level was transferred to Kenya Power staff through training program in TBEA’s factory.
He said: “The project accelerated local employment in the past few years during its construction process.”
Source: Company Press Release