Secretary of Energy, Charles Keter explained that the power line is funded by the Spanish government, prompting Nairobi to request the Spanish to handle the issue themselves and hire a new contractor on their own accord.

 

The 428 kilometer high voltage line was initially managed by Isolux, a Spanish contractor, but in July, Isolux filed for bankruptcy in Spain, causing a huge complication. “We have asked Spain for a shortlist of competent companies. The project has to be under a Spanish contractor. This is because the credit is from the Spanish government,” Mr Keter said in an interview.

 

The Loiyangalani-Suswa power line is set to cost up to the tune of $15.7 billion. The power line will harness electricity from the 300MW Lake Turkana Wind Power Farm, known today as Africa’s largest wind farm. The completion of the project is now a priority task for the government, as they hope to avoid paying a $7 million monthly fine that comes with the failure to complete the transmission line in the decided time frame.

 

Madrid-based Isolux were to complete the project by the end of 2013, but only managed to finish 70% of the project, before the Kenyan government’s hand was forced to pull the plug on the deal due to the mounting issues with Isolux.  Isolux also missed a revised date of completion, which was set as October 2016, which turned out to be the final straw for the Kenyans.

 

Source : Business News Africa