By Kennedy Senelwa
Nairobi — Kenyans in the diaspora are to set up a wind power plant in the northeastern part of the country at a cost of Sh55 billion. Through their firm, Gitson Energy Ltd, the 300-megawatt facility is set to begin operating in 2011 and to attain full capacity in 2012.
The company is currently collecting solar data and information on wind speeds at the project site at Bubisa near Marsabit prior to moving to the implementation stage next year.
“Data collection and monitoring regimes have yielded great results. There is enough wind and solar energy to set up a commercial integrated project. The kind of turbines to use depends on data on wind speed,” said Gitson’s managing director Michael Ndiritu.
Gitson Energy now plans to negotiate and sign an interim power purchase agreement with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) to enable it accelerate the pace of raising money to fund the Marsabit project.
Mr Ndiritu said they will look for funds from diverse sources like equity financing and long-term, low-interest debt as well as working with suppliers to provide the equipment on a long-term basis repayment period.
“We are negotiating with several wind energy equipment suppliers. Gitson is pursuing carbon credits to help unlock project financing and contribute to availing to the national grid electricity that is cheaply generated,” he said.
Transmitting electricity from Bubisa to KPLC customers will, however, be a problem as the area lacks a transmission line.
If the proposed Kenya-Ethiopia transmission line is not completed in time, Gitson will have spend more money to link up to the national grid.
Ethiopia is currently undertaking massive hydro power projects to generate electricity for domestic use as well as for sale to Kenya and Sudan.
“The government effort to support green energy development in Kenya is good. Kenya has resources that if harnessed properly can satisfy the country’s energy needs at competitive prices,” Mr Ndiritu said.
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