L. Turkana wind project penalty cash cut in Covid-19 fight
Monday, June 1, 2020 0:01
By EDWIN MUTAI
Lake Turkana Wind Power project in Marsabit County.
FILE PHOTO | NMG
The Treasury has redirected Sh1 billion meant for Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) line project and street lighting to financing post-Covid-19 economic recovery plans.
Kenya incurred a 127 million euros (Sh14.5 billion under then prevailing exchange rates) penalty for breaching the timelines set for completion of the 428-kilometre high-voltage power line from Marsabit to Suswa sub-station in Narok, the main interchange for power from different sources.
The 310-megawatt Lake Turkana wind farm was initially set for launch in 2017 but remained idle due to delays in installing transmission lines needed to get the clean power to the national grid and customers.
Kenya then hired a Chinese company to complete the line to evacuate power from the wind farm which is expected to contribute 15 percent of Kenya’s total electricity needs.
