Kenyan consumers risk USD135 Million fine a year for wind power delay
Homes and businesses risk bearing the brunt in electricity bills
The Treasury has made a provision of Sh13.9 billion in its 2018 budget policy statement towards the 310-megawatt wind farm in payments termed as deemed generated energy.
Energy secretary Charles Keter early this month said the power line linking the $847 million (Sh87.2 billion) power plant to the national grid was 70 per cent complete, with only high voltage cables remaining to be put up.
“We have up to June of this year, otherwise from June henceforth we will have to pay deemed energy, which as you are aware, is about Sh1 billion per month,” said Mr Keter.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kenya has already been fined Sh5.7 billion by the developers of the Lake Turkana Wind Power owing to the delays.
The wind farm, the largest in Africa, was supposed to inject the first 50 megawatts into the grid in October 2016 and the whole capacity by last July.
However, delays in construction of the 428-kilometre power line has hampered electricity evacuation from the northern town of Marsabit to Suswa substation in Narok, the country’s main interchange for power coming from different sources.
This has left the wind farm developers stranded with power, amid pressing cash needs such as loans repayment, an obligation that taxpayers will shoulder.
Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems, the supplier of the wind farm’s 365 turbines, said last year the farm was ready for launch but would be idle until the government installs the transmission line.
ADVERTISEMENT
Construction of the power line started in November 2015 but was delayed by landowners’ compensation demands and the closure of a major contractor. The projects main contractor, Spain’s Grupo Isolux Corsan, closed due to financial difficulties.
The Treasury allocated the Sh5.7 billion in a September supplementary budget to be wired to Lake Turkana for last year’s delay and fine will be recovered this year from consumers via monthly bills.
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: news@pulselive.co.ke
Recommended articles
African countries with the highest divorce rate
Machoka at 70: Emotions run high during Citizen TV presenter's birthday [Video]
Diwali 2022: Is Monday a public holiday in Kenya?
Akothee finally reveals reasons for separating from Omosh 1 month after wedding
Man, once a ‘billionaire’, recounts how he lost wealth, now sells his book on streets [Video]
Details of Ngina Kenyatta's luxurious restaurant
Zero Chills! Jackie Matubia's advice for Milly Chebby amid the unfollow drama
Nigerian royal dignitaries, including four kings and a queen, expected to attend Museveni’s 50th wedding anniversary celebrations