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Kenya to construct power lines to increase renewable energy output

Xinhua, April 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenya plans to prioritize the construction of electricity transmission lines that will help in scaling up generation of renewable energy.

Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) Managing Director Fernandes Barasa told Xinhua in Nairobi on Sunday that additional transmission lines will be constructed to produce 1646MW of geothermal and 630 MW of wind power in the next five years.

"The aim is to increase the proportion of renewable energy in our power mix," Barasa said, noting that the East African nation wants to reduce its reliance of diesel power generators in remote areas.

"This will help the country to reduce the overall cost of electricity," he said.

The East African nation's total installed electricity capacity is approximately 2298 MW. This power includes 820 MW hydro, 663 MW of diesel, 593 MW of geothermal, 54MW of gas turbines, and about 22.5MW wind.

Barasa said Kenya has a geothermal potential of over 7,000 MW.

"Geothermal represents a clean, affordable and reliable source of power," he said.

KETRACO is set to receive 25 million U.S. dollars from the government in the 2015/2016 financial year.

Under its five-year strategic plan, it requires 3 billion dollars to construct 7,000 Kilometers of new electricity lines.

Barasa said the firm will source the funds from internal and external revenue sources.

According to KETRACO, the new lines will open up geographical areas without access to national grid. Endit