Government has urged KenGen to team up with private sector players and hasten completion of power generation projects so as to attract investors into the country.
Energy and Petroleum Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge Wednesday said joint ventures will help KenGen reduce their operational costs.
He added that it would also increase chances of realisation of the 5000MW power project which is important to government.
“KenGen has a good portion, about 900MW of the 5000MW. We are expecting more capacity from you,” Mr Njoroge told the annual meeting of KenGen’s forum on innovation and improvement of its business which ended Friday in Nairobi.
SET UP A COMMITTEE
So far, the Energy and Petroleum ministry has set up a committee chaired by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi that will audit power use and help assess government’s plans to increase power capacity. The committee will monitor demand and ensure Kenya does not over generate power.
KenGen this year put up 280MW of power into the national grid, boosting governments plans to increase power supply countrywide.
“Because of the 280MW project, tariffs have reduced by between 25 per cent and 30 per cent based on the tariff regimes for various customers,” said Njoroge who added that those criticising the project should instead support government’s power increment plan.
Local energy analysts and the International Monetary Fund have previously warned that the 5,000MW power drive could overshoot demand.
