M a r k e t N e w s
Vestas supply wind turbines for Kenya’s wind farm; firm’s largest single order
Posted on : Friday , 20th February 2015
Vestas has supplied 365 wind turbines that will see Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power Project (LTWP) give off 310 megawatts. The order becomes the largest single order for the company. The wind power project was commissioned in March 2014. It is estimated to cost US$ 766.6m and expected be the largest wind farm in Africa. It will be constructed on a 40,000 acres, and construction was to commence this month.
The wind power farm project will be financed by several companies which include; OPIC, Vestas, KP&P BV Africa, Aldwych International Limited, Norfund, Finnfund and the Danish Investment Fund.
Kenyan Government has an initial target of 5,000MW electricity generation by 2017 and 18, 000mw and anticipates that the energy demand will increase to reach 18,000MW by year 2030, part of which will be generated from LTWP.
Alternative source of power will come from oil and gas sector, especially with recent discoveries.
Kenya is currently moving to a new direction in terms of power generation and it is embracing the natural gas, especially from recently discovered gas in northern Kenya and is also thirsty to boost the country’s power base so as to meet ever growing demand for electricity utility in the region.
Kenyan Lake Turkana Wind Power Project ordered 365 wind turbines, the largest single order for Vestas, and which accounted for the company’s 13.75 per cent of sales made in its last quarter of 2014. Kenya is hoping to generate 13% of electricity from the wind power project.
The project will be insured at a cost of US$ 24m by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Standard Chartered Bank following the signing of a related agreement last year. Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) will also construct a 450km transmission line that will see more people connected to grid by linking Nairobi outskirts to Loyangalani.
Source : construction review online
