Transmission line from Olkaria to increase reliability in western Kenya
45 MW Olkaria I geothermal power plant, Kenya (source: bgr.bund.de)
Alexander Richter
11 Ara 2010
A new electricity transmission line from the Olkaria geothermal plant to western Kenya will help to improve efficiency and reliability of power supply in western Kenya.
In news from Kenya it is reported that “frequent blackouts in Western and Nyanza as well as parts of the Rift Valley will be a thing of the past once a new electricity transmission line from Olkaria geothermal plant to western Kenya is in place.
The 290-kilometre long Olkaria-Lessos-Kisumu line, whose objective is to enhance efficiency and reliability of electric power supply, will replace the existing line, which is 50 years old and is no longer efficient.
“The project will help transmit geothermal power to Western and Nyanza and some parts of Rift Valley,” Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi said during the signing of a loan agreement worth Sh11.8 billion with the Japanese government at the Treasury.
“These areas have been experiencing frequent blackouts, which will be a thing of the past once this new line is in place.”
The line will transmit renewable energy generated from Olkaria to ensure stable distribution of electric power to western region and allow for power interchange to and from Uganda.
Geothermal power is stable, unaffected by weather, and emits no carbon dioxide as generation uses geothermal fluid, a mixture of high-temperature water and steam extracted from deep underground reservoirs through production wells.
Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta said that by improving efficiency of transmission and transmitting the renewable energy, the project will contribute to mitigating negative impacts on the environment,” he said.”
Source: Daily Nation
