Kenyan President William Ruto has commissioned a power substation in Athi River, Machakos, to boost the power supply in the East African nation.
The substation project which was executed by Kenya’s Transmission Company (KETRACO) is located barely a kilometre off the Nairobi—Namanga road in the Mavoko sub-county.
It is part of 220Kv Nairobi Ring substations and a ‘Vision 2030’ flagship project.
Speaking at a short ceremony to commission the project on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, President William Ruto said the substation would sort out power outage problems often experienced in the country.
“Power outages will no longer be experienced in the country. There will be no more power blackouts,” he promised the country.
Ruto said his administration would expand the Athi River Special Economic Zone.
“Export Processing Zone–Athi River—has employed more than 20, 000 youth. But, we intend to add 15,000 more youth to work here in Athi River,” Ruto said.
In a tweet after commissioning the project, President Ruto said: “We are investing in additional electricity supply, reinforcing the existing distribution network while minimising losses so that we can access adequate, low-carbon, reliable and affordable energy. This will unlock Kenya’s production potential and spur our economic growth.’’
The Chief Executive Officer of KETRACO, Dr Eng. John Mativo, in a tweet, also said: “The substation enables the load centre to be connected to Olkaria geothermal power, Suswa substation (connected to Lake Turkana Wind Plant and Ethiopia interconnector), Kipeto Wind plant among other sources.
“Athi River substation is displacing/minimizing the reliance on thermal generation The Substation is part of the 220kV Nairobi Ring project which includes the Isinya substation, Kimuka substation, Malaa substation and the Isinya – Suswa transmission line.
“The benefit of the 220kV Nairobi Ring project as a whole is to provide alternative substations to supply the greater Nairobi, by evacuating power from Olkaria geothermal, Lake Turkana Wind, Kipeto Wind, Ethiopia Interconnection to Nairobi and surrounding areas,’’ his tweet concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com