Government finalises deal to import “cheap” power from Ethiopia
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Government finalises deal to import "cheap" power from Ethiopia in a bid to lower the cost of KPLC electricity
Government finalises deal to import “cheap” power from Ethiopia in a bid to lower the cost of KPLC electricity.
Alex Wachira, the principal secretary for energy, announced on Friday, January 13, that after the agreement to import power from Ethiopia is actualized, the cost of electricity will drop in March.
The PS stated that Kenya had already received the first 75 megawatts from Ethiopia during a tour of the Suswa Substation on Friday.
He further stated that his ministry was striving to hasten the construction of two electricity substations, which will receive the imported power.
“We do not want to take power from Ethiopia and have it sit around here idle, that is why we are fast-tracking the Kimuka Substation and the Mariakani Substation,” Wachira stated.
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According to the PS, geothermal energy, which makes up a sizable portion of Kenya’s energy source, is more expensive than the hydroelectric power that will be supplied from Ethiopia.
Joseph Muli, managing director of Kenya Power, backed up his claim by saying that after the projects are finished, Kenyans can anticipate a change in their electricity bills.
“With the reduced thermal generation and bringing in Ethiopian power which is cheap, we are certain that the bills will reflect the lower cost of power that we are bringing from Ethiopia.
The two substations in Mariakani and Kimuka will be used to distribute power in the coastal region and other parts of Kenya.
The electricity deal was part of the agreements reached between President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during the former’s state visit in October 2022.
Kenyans were staring at the possibility of an increment in the prices of electricity after the government withdrew subsidies in December 2022.
However, the President dispelled reports of increments – stating that the government had put measures in place to ensure the cost of electricity is cost-friendly.
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