Thika Town’s power supply gets boost

13.04.2014
The quality of power supply to the industries and residents of Thika town is set to greatly improve following the completion of a 66/11 kv substation with two 45 MVA transformers at Makongeni. The ultra-modern facility, constructed by Kenya Power at a total cost of Shs.642 million, has adequate capacity to accommodate additional power demand by existing industries who would like to expand their operations, as well as new industrial and commercial enterprises.

Speaking during the official commissioning of the substation, Kenya Power's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ben Chumo, said that the substation will greatly complement the efforts that the power firm has put towards meeting the growing demand for reliable and competitively priced electricity in the greater Kiambu County.

 

Dr. Chumo said that Kenya Power has so far invested Shs.4.5 billion towards constructing substations in Githunguri, Gatundu, Kirigiti, Magumu, Rironi, Lower Kabete, Dagoretti, Uplands, JKUAT, and on Thika Road within the county.

 

He added that the power firm will, in the coming months, also invest in another new substation at Kahaini, Thika, at a cost of Shs.532 million to further stabilise and meet growing demand to the north of the town.

 

The Thika Industrial Substation and the company's other undertakings in Kiambu County, Dr. Chumo said, are part of projects the government and electricity sector players are speedily implementing so as to develop at least 5,000 MW of additional generation capacity by 2017. The ambitious plan will increase the effective generation capacity by about 300% from the current 1,652 MW to 6,652 MW.

 

In his remarks during the function, the Chairman of the Kenya Power Board of Directors, Mr. Eliazar Ochola, noted that the company was working with other agencies notably the Rural Electrification Authority and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company towards accelerating electricity access to  more than 50% of the Kenyan population by the year 2020 and over 75% by 2030.

 

Mr. Ochola, on behalf of the Board of Directors, also assured the company's stakeholders and partners of its commitment to attaining a remarkable measure of success in a reinforced and refurbished electricity distribution network by 2017.

 

ENDS.............................................................
For more information, contact:
Kenya Power Corporate Communications Dept.
Tel. 3201622/30 or/47
E-mail communications@kenyapower.co.ke