Greg Milet-Clay explains how the automation project will be working to the Kenya Power Chairman Eliazar Ochola in cap and his CEO Joseph Njoroge.
Unnecessary blackouts resulting from switching on and off of power so as to identify faulty locations may soon be a thing of the past for Mombasa and Nairobi residents as Kenya Power Company embarks on a Sh.600 million system automation project.
The Kenya Power Company director Engineer Joseph Njoroge said the project will entail installation of modern and versatile equipments which will automatically identify power faults occurring in the distribution network.The project which is expected to end by August next year is to be implemented by El-Mor Electricity Limited of Israel for Nairobi, while the one in Mombasa is carried out by Lucy Electric limited of the United Kingdom.
Implementation is under three main components which include the master station that monitor and controls the units to be installed in both Nairobi and Mombasa, a communication system linking the switches in the field and remote control terminal and motorized switch.The automatic system will integrates with new system control and data acquisition (SCADA) which is under installation to facilitate communication system that will ease communication between Kenya power control centre and various substations in the country.
Speaking at Rabai at sub station in Kilifi County, during the launch of Mombasa distribution project, the MD said this was one of the efforts in their re-branding process that is geared towards offering of good services to its clients.He said this was the hardware part in the re-branding which will focus on infrastructure which has greatly affected the economy of this country.
“Our officers have been finding it difficult to spot and identify faults in the power network which is not only a huge loss to the company but to the Kenyan economy in general, one kilowatt is equivalent to one dollar 15 cents loss to the company” said Njoroge.However the engineer said they were working on training of the staff to change the attitude and other mechanism towards good service delivery as Kenyans expect more than what is being done.
“I know customers are not experiencing the supply they require and a lot is being done to give quality services. For the last seven years Kenya power has spent about 40 billion for improvement of services country wide” revealed the MD.He expressed confidence that the company is on course to have their customers enjoy the fruits of re-branding.
Speaking at the same venue Kenya power board chairperson, Eliazar Ochola said there was need to have control of power distribution in the country to ensure better service to all Kenyans as well as meeting the demand for electricity.
“Kenyans must get reliable power and Kenya power must have a control. We need also to have a smart greed meter system to have our clients have control of the power they are using by having a smart greed meter” said Ochola.However the chairperson expressed confidence that by October next year Kenya will have sufficient power as KENGEN,GDC and other independent producers which among them are sponsored by Kenya power are working towards increasing the productivity in the country.
Engineer Njoroge revealed that about 1.55 billion have been used in construction of six new power substations and rehabilitation of eight others at the coast which has transformed the capacity to accommodate new customers being connected.
Among those built and rehabilitated substations at the coast include Shanzu,Utange,Likoni,Mwabungo,Msambweni,Galu,Tononoka,Voi,Kenya Petroleum refineries,Miritini,Mariakani,Kanamai and Watamu.
According to the director, rehabilitation work is on going at Bamburi and Kipevu substations together with the Malindi 33KV line which will be ready by end of September 2011.
By 2013, two new substations at Jomvu and Mishomoroni will be ready with the installation of underground cables from Kipevu to Mbaraki and Makande also being completed.
Rabai, Malindi, Garsen and Lamu which will create new capacity for new customer will also be in place with Lamu creating new capacity for its existing and new customers to take additional load.
The Rabai Galu line with 132KV and 46 MVA sub-station to be based at Galu will cost a whooping shs.3 Billion that will see 186MA transformation capacity being added in the coast region.
Kenya still has additional projects yet to be implemented under the Kenya electricity expansion projects (KEEP) that will add another 305 MVA transformation capacity to the coast consumers.
In the piping is also the construction of the three 132/33KV substation with total capacity of 66 MVA Rabai-Lamu projects under Ketraco.
The projects will enable Kenya power reduce operation costs and loss of power in the system by bringing substations closer to the people
According to officials from Kenya power, the company is determined to connect 40 percent of the country population by 2020 up from the current 29 percent.
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