Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has explained that blackouts being witnessed in the country is a result of network overload.
According to the CS, the country had not invested in transmission networks for about 5 years and yet it continued to build the industry.
Therefore, he noted that the demand for power increased causing constraints on the transmission networks available.
Further, the CS stated that he experienced the effects of the blackout firsthand as he was flying into the country at the time.
“When it happened, I was flying in from Dubai and I experienced first-hand the anger because I was at the airport and the belt stopped, so we could not get our luggage.
“The generators did not take of immediately and it is a challenge that as a country we are really ashamed of, and we need to address it,” he stated.
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Chirchir Explains Yesterday’s Blackout
Also, he indicated that the national blackout that occurred on December 10, was as a result of an overloaded line along the Kisumu- Muhoroni line.
“Lack of investment on the network for a long time. We have continued to build industry, but we have not built a network in the last four or five years and the network is overloaded.
“There is so much constrain of transmission of electrons from where they are generated. Yesterday the black out was caused by an overload between Kisumu, Muhoroni when there was sudden demand,” he stated.
Further explaining reason for the power loss, the CS stated that the line was overwhelmed by the huge demand leading to the fault and subsequently blackout across the country.
“The line is meant to carry 80 megawatts when the line dripped, it was carrying 150 megawatts and suddenly there was a demand of an additional 20 megawatts on that line.
“This led to a cascade of generation drips resulting in widespread power outages. We are finalizing restoration, and it is something we must pay attention to as a country,” he explained.
Energy CS on Way Forward
Chirchir stated that the government had put in place measures to solve the problem including building an alternative transmission line in Western Kenya to reduce the over dependence.
“We will work on removing some of the system constraints like the Western part of Kenya is serviced by Ol Karia and the transmission like are currently constrained.
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“We are building an alternative line to support western part of Kenya from Ol Karia through Narok all the way to Awendo to support the transmission that goes through Lesos and improve the capacity of carrying more megawatts to the Western part of the country,” he stated.
Additionally, he noted that the government had already received funding from South Korea and the Africa Development Bank to begin the construction.
How Long Will It Take?
The CS also noted that the project would take 20 months as it was not a quick fix.
“The loan facility has been signed and we are ready to start we are getting funding from South Korea and Africa Development Bank. We are at the tendering stage.
“However, the construction is not a quick fix and will take some 20 months, but we will be working on how to mitigate the constrains to avoid the system overload.
On the other hand, he stated that KenGen was already replacing hydro turbines for a short-term solution.
“KenGen is currently replacing the existing hydro turbines runners with modern ones that will have the capability of a bigger operating range, this will address the need of reserves in the short term,” he noted.
