South Korean firm Daewoo has signed an agreement with the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KENGEN) for the construction of a power plant deemed as the region’s largest, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Monday.
Mr. Odinga, who arrived in South Korea’s capital, Seoul, Sunday to sign a deal between Daewoo International and KENGEN, said work on the US$1.3 billion coal-fired power plant in Kilifi County, in the Kenyan coastal region, would begin shortly.
Daewoo will supply two turbines each producing 300MW. Kenya currently has a total installed power capacity of 1,215MW, and peak demand can reach 1,150MW.
“We have to deliver new investment to keep the lights on and factories running if we are to create jobs and get our people working. We need to pursue energy from diverse sources if we are to respond to our people’s concerns about prices of power and, of course, we have to be responsible members of the global community by ensuring our energy is green and clean and does not endanger the environment,” Mr. Odinga said.
“The government has identified generation of power from clean coal as one of the flagship projects towards attaining the Vision 2030,” the Premier said in a statement.
He is due to meet with his South Korean counterpart Kim Hwang-sik during the visit and promote further collaboration between Kenya and South Korea.
