A consortium of local investors plans to develop a close to 50MW renewable energy wind farm in Limuru, Kiambu County. The consortium, which will feature the Transcentury Investments subsidiary firm, Civicon as a local project contractor, is gearing up to develop the 11.7 billion Limuru Wind Farm Project begining March next year.
Speaking when he confirmed the proposed project, Transcentury Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Gachao Kiuna, said the Limuru Wind Farm project will be undertaken on a suitable 210-acre land at Mwanya wa Ruhuho Nguirubi Thiongo area.
Alongside Aperture Green Power, Saron Marketing & Civicon, Dr Kiuna, disclosed that the project expected to generate 49.5MW of clean renewable electric energy will be undertaken by HydroChina Corporation who are the engineering, procurement and construction contractors.
The project’s investment planning will be undertaken by Saron Marketing Group who are the investment consultants while Aperture Green Power Company will play the lead project sponsor role.
“We are excited that Civicon will be playing a key role in the realisation of such a major energy project which further confirms our growing positioning in the local energy development sector,” Dr Gachao said.
“The potential for wind energy generation in Kenya is significant and we shall be using the Limuru Wind Farm project as a pilot programme to fine tune our delivery capacity,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya has a proven wind energy potential of as high as 346 W/m2 and speeds of over 6m/s in parts of Marsabit, Kajiado, Laikipia, Meru, Nyandarua, Kilifi, Lamu, Isiolo Turkana, Samburu, Uasin Gishu Narok, Kiambu Counties among others.
Details contained in the Ministry’s National Energy Policy indicate that, strategically, the ministry is now gearing up to substitute thermal energy generation with wind power plants to cut down on the large amounts of foreign exchange required to import fossil fuels for thermal power plants. Ahead of the project groundbreaking next year, the project consortium is negotiating with Kenya Power to seal a suitable power purchase agreement by the end of this year, according to Dr Gachao.
During the construction phase, the proposed Limuru Wind farm, Dr Gachao said will provide in excess of 700 direct jobs to the local community. The construction programme for the project, he explained, will involve the installation of 33 wind turbines.
Civicon’s involvement in the Limuru Wind Farm project comes hot on the heels of the recent announcement that the local engineering and construction services firm, has signed a 25 year power purchase agreement with Kenya Power, from its 35MW Menengai Geothermal power project near Nakuru for an unspecified value.
Civicon also commenced construction earlier this month of the first phase of the 300MW Lake Turkuna Wind Power Project, which will be the region’s largest wind power project solidifying the local company’s position as the leading local wind power EPC firm in the region.
