The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is considering a plan to integrate solar power at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
This is according to KAA’s Acting Managing Director Henry Ogoye who spoke during the ACI World Environmental Committee meeting hosted in Nairobi.
Ogoye noted that integrating solar power would help to reduce reliance on the national grid.
According to him, the JKIA is undergoing an appraisal of a 3MW solar power installation to generate solar energy.
Further, the Acting MD noted that solar installation at the airport would help to cut costs and help to mitigate carbon emissions in line with its 2030 target.
“As part of this vision, JKIA is evaluating the integration of a 3MW solar power installation. This is geared towards: reducing our dependence on the national grid,” Ogoye stated.
Making JKIA Worldclass
Besides the plans to install solar power at JKIA, Ogoye outlined the authority’s achievements in efforts to upgrade local international airports.
He listed the recent achievement of Level 2- Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) for JKIA, Moi Airport in Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret as some of the notable steps.
Also Read: Top Managers Fired After JKIA Blackout
This, he noted, aligns with the authority’s vision of attaining Level 3 category by 2030.
In addition, the MD announced future goals in sight for the authority in line with making Kenyan airports compliant with global standards.
Among them are plans to upgrade airports’ capacity harvesting rainwater and planting trees whereby employees will be required to plant 30 trees every year.
JKIA Blackout
The announcement came days after operations at the JKIA were grounded following a nationwide blackout that left most parts of the country without power.
Also Read: KPLC Restores Power to JKIA and Parts of the Country
At the time, the airport’s generators failed to restore power instantly leaving travelers stranded.
This sparked reactions from Kenyans who called out the airport’s management over lack of preparedness.
Less than a day later, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced a change in command of KAA, paving the way for Ogoye’s entry.
In line with Kenya’s ambition to position itself as a gateway to the region and a transport hub, CS Murkomen assured that the “situation would not happen again”.
