Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has explained how it spends KSh900 million annually to power a remote town and its surrounding areas using diesel generators.
The company says the generators have struggled to keep up with growing electricity demand, with Turkana’s extreme temperatures contributing to frequent breakdowns and power rationing.
KPLC is now nearing completion of a KSh1.01 billion project that will connect Lodwar to the national grid, replacing the long-standing reliance on diesel-powered generation with a more stable and reliable electricity supply.
KPLC’s KSh900 Million Generator Bill
For years, residents and businesses in Lodwar and its environs have depended on diesel-powered generation for electricity.
Kenya Power has said the arrangement is expensive to maintain, with the company spending approximately KSh900 million each year to run the generators.
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The high temperatures experienced in Turkana have also presented an operational challenge.
According to Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO Joseph Siror, operating generators continuously in the hot environment contributes to breakdowns, affecting the reliability of electricity supply and sometimes resulting in power rationing.
“This is one of those projects which we hold very dear to us. Since independence, the people of this area and this county have depended on generators, which are not very effective especially in this area, where the temperatures are quite high and running the machines on a 24-hour non-stop basis leads to breakdowns,” said Siror.
The financial burden has made connecting the area to the national grid an important investment for Kenya Power. Siror said the cost of extending the power line to Lodwar is almost comparable to what the company currently spends on diesel in a single year.
KSh1.01 Billion Grid Connection Nears Completion
The project involves two major components. Construction of a 66/11kV Lodwar substation and a high-voltage line connecting Lodwar to the national grid via Lokichar.
The project is a scope of 10MVA 66/11kV substation and 100 kilometers of 66kV line from Lokichar, and the investment is capped at KSh1.01 billion.
The grid connection is set to provide a more stable electricity supply to more than 80,000 residents in the town and surrounding areas.
Kenya Power says the project will also reduce outages and voltage fluctuations that have affected economic activity, while eliminating the need for diesel-based generation as the primary electricity source.
“Once complete, the line will deliver stable, clean and reliable electricity to more than 80,000 residents in Lodwar, powering homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses, while preparing the town to absorb future demand as it continues to expand, ” read the statement.
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Power to Unlock Turkana’s Economic Potential
Beyond the immediate reduction in generation costs, the grid connection is expected to support economic development in Turkana County.
Kenya Power has identified agriculture, commerce, manufacturing, retail and tourism among the sectors that could benefit from dependable electricity.
As part of the project, Kenya Power says replacing diesel generation with grid electricity will reduce fossil-fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions.
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