KenGen Meru wind farm construction set for 2019

Construction of the 400 megawatt wind power project in Meru is set to commence in 2019.

This as the Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KenGen) nears financial closure for the project.

KenGen managing director Rebecca Miano said on Thursday that the electricity generator is currently engaging land owners who have in the past stalled the project over compensation.

Ms Miano expects land acquisition and financing to be completed by the close of the year paving way for the commencement of the project.

“The land acquisition process is currently ongoing anticipating that it will be completed within 6 months. In addition to that, we expect to sign the balance of the funding with KfW by December 2018 after which the procurement of the contractors will commence,” she said.

She was speaking during the signing of a 60 million euro (Ksh7 billion) credit facility with the French Development Agency (AFD).

The Meru wind power project has been marred by land acquisition challenges that have seen the construction stalled.

German based KfW Development Bank will avail a similar amount of funding to cater for the establishment of a control centre for the Kenyan State and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), a 400/132 kV station in Makindu and provide additional funding for the Nairobi Ring transmission project.

National Treasury cabinet secretary Henry Rotich said the financial backing of the infrastructure project would support government efforts to boost electricity production.

“The program resonates with our aim of implementing sustainable development goals over the medium term for the benefit of all Kenyans,” Mr Rotich said.

Once complete, the first phase of the Meru wind-farm project is expected to add up to 80MW in power units to the national grid.