Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has dismissed the likelihood of introducing load shedding/power rationing in the country.
Addressing the media days after a major blackout hit the country, the CS in company of other stakeholders assured Kenyans that power rationing was not an option.
“We do not see any challenge in terms of load shedding, it is a problem we want to correct by Tuesday,” he stated.
Moreover, Davis Chirchir held a meeting with oil marketers to review the government-to-government deal entered with gulf countries on importation of petroleum products.
This was after questions emerged on the overall impact of the deal and whether it was tailored to benefit specific marketers.
The Energy CS noted that the arrangement to import fuel on credit had helped stabilize the Kenyan Shilling against the dollar explaining that initially, all marketers would pay for the product in five days before its delivered.
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“Today those dollars are held in the country for at least 180 days, which gives us a window to stabilize the market because petroleum was used to address the macro-issues of dollar unavailability in the country,” Stated CS Chirchir
Furthermore, CS Chirchir noted that petroleum sucks about $500 million monthly, adding that by slowing down the exiting of dollars helps to address the rest of the economy.
Davis Chirchir, EPRA on Fuel Prices
Similarly, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority‘s (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo hinted that fuel prices are likely to go up considering the current fuel prices when compared to July’s prices.
“Based on the conversation we are having today that August cargos are more expensive than July cargos gives you a clear indication of where the next pricing circle is headed,” he noted.
In addition, CS Davis Chirchir stated that October and November fuel prices will be more expensive than they are right now.
Lake Turkana Wind Power Plant Yer to be Restored
Nevertheless, CS Chirchir maintained that the Lake Turkana Wind Power Plant will remain shut until they find the cause of the problem that caused a more than 20-hour countrywide blackout.
Also Read: Murkomen and KPLC Under More Pressure Over Blackout
“We know there are commercial interests, they are losing money, we have invited them to Suswa not to blame them but to find out where the challenge is coming from and correct it,” noted Davis Chirchir.
Furthermore, Housing principal secretary Charles Hinga accused Kenya power of frustrating the government projects by deliberately failing to install consumer electricity meters on finished houses.
