Lamu to host 981MW power plant

Plans for producing electricity from coal are beginning to take shape with a local consortium inching close to setting up a power plant at the coast.

Amu Power company, a consortium of Gulf Energy and Centum Investment, intends to set up a coal-fired power plant with a net output of 981MW in the Manda Bay (Lamu county) after winning a bid from the government. The project is part of the national government’s blueprint for producing 5000MW of electrical power in the next two years.

The government wants to substantially reduce consumer tariffs while enhancing quality and quantity of power supply across the country and with the Lamu project set for take-off, the cost of electricity is likely to take a nosedive.

The company is currently conducting an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) in accordance with section 58 of the Environment Management and Coordination Act. Amu Power has appointed Kurrent Technologies as the independent ESIA consultant to identify and assess all potential environmental and social impacts associated with the project and propose mitigation measures.

The project will be a boost to the government which has faced several bottlenecks in its plan to increase the national grid megawatts. Geothermal Power Company which was set to add 105MW of steam power to the national grid by December last year failed to start the production after delays in the tendering process forced the state agency to defer production of steam power at Menengai by one year.

Other core deposits in Kitui have received emergency brakes after fights over the control of the ore between the county government and national government continue derailing the process.