Kenya’s power utility company, Kenya Power has asked the government to impose a total ban on copper exports to help tame infrastructure vandalism in the East African nation.
This is in the wake of continued destruction and looting of power lines, transformers, poles and other electrical equipment, including attacks on power sub-stations, that has seen the utility firm lose hundreds of millions.
Actions by vandals have also negatively impacted power distribution in the country, with the vice not only rife in the energy sector but also in roads, rail, and other strategic national infrastructure.
In a statement issued and signed by its Managing Director, Dr Joseph Siror, the company also demanded that scrap metal dealers be made to declare their sources especially for copper and aluminium, with a continuous vetting of all those engaged in the scrap metal trade.
These include main scrap metal dealers, smelters, and exporters.
“There should also be joint inspections of business premises to ensure compliance with the law and filing of returns by dealers as per the Scrap Metal Act and Scrap Metal regulations,” Siror said.
“In 2024, we have so far had 78 transformers vandalised, worth Sh78 million. The loss constitutes only the cost of installing a new transformer,” said Siror.
He said if the cost of unserved energy, loss of business, and possibly lives, is computed, the losses run into billions of Kenya shillings which has a huge impact on on the economy
While the sector is regulated and overseen by the Scrap Metal Council, a state corporation domiciled in the State Department for Industry established by the Scrap Metal Council Act of 2015, a few unscrupulous dealers continue to target key installations.
Kenya Power head of security Paul Nyaga said hotspots for vandalism are Kiambu, Embu, Machakos, Kajiado, Muranga and some parts of Mombasa country mainly Changamwe and Miritini.
“There is ready market for copper and aluminum in the export markets which is encouraging the trend. We are however working on putting all measures in place to curb the acts,” Nyaga said.
Key export markets for the products are China and India, with a kilogramme of copper in the black market currently fetching up to Sh1,700.
The call by Kenya Power comes amid the Energy Ministry’s push to cut system losses to an average 20 per cent in the short-term and double energy efficiency.
Energy CS Davis Chirchir says these will help improve energy security, reduce the expenditure of foreign currency reserves on energy imports, lessen the strain on the national grid during peak time, bring down power bills and lower the costs associated with emissions.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com