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The revamp of the Kenya Electricity Generation Company Gogo power plant in Migori county will take 30 to 36 months, the company has announced.
Gogo power plant, which was commissioned in 1958 got Cabinet approval for redevelopment last week.
The redevelopment which is estimated to cost Sh3 billion, will see the power plant increase its electricity generation capacity from 2MW to 8.6MW.
KenGen board chairman Julius Ogamba said the project is aligned with Kenya’s commitment to clean energy and the global climate action agenda.
He said the project will expand energy sources and improve livelihoods of local communities.
“The redevelopment will rejuvenate the reliability of the power supply, stimulate socio-economic activities, and contribute to the prosperity of Nyanza and Western Kenya regions,” he said.
He said the plant's aging infrastructure face frequent breakdowns and challenges in sourcing spare parts.
He said upon completion, the plant will have a new powerhouse equipped with two vertical turbine generators, transformers and other equipment.
The hydropower plant will have a new 66/33kV substation and a dedicated 33kV double circuit power evacuation line, 29.9kms from the new power-house to Awendo substation.
Ogamba spoke during the shareholders’ tour of the Sondu/Miriu hydropower plant in Kisumu county.
He was accompanied by KenGen managing director Eng Peter Njenga and other board members.
The chairman said the power plant will contribute significantly to the development of Western Kenya.
Ogamba said geothermal energy is poised to surpass hydropower.
“We have about 799MW, which is 39 per cent from geothermal and 26MW from wind power which is one per cent, and the rest coming from thermal,” he said.
He said the anticipated El Nino rains, will improve dam levels in both Western and Eastern regions further lowering the cost of electricity.
The electricity generated from the Gogo plant is evacuated via an unstable 33kV distribution line to the 132/33KV Awendo substation.
Njenga said Gogo project was a significant step towards achieving Kenya’s energy goals and promoting sustainable development.
“The project symbolises tremendous progress in the energy sector, promising economic growth, job creation, and improved livelihoods,” he said.
The MD said project will improve efficiency of the plant, optimally utilise good flows from River Kuja and improve power supply in the region.
Western region hosts Sondu Miriu, Sang’oro, Gogo, and Turkwel power stations inject 189 MW to the national grid.
Currently, KenGen boasts of a total generation capacity of 825MW from all its hydropower plants, constituting a significant 46 percent of the nation's total energy output.
"If you look at the average costs at which we sell to Kenya Power, our cost is quite reasonable and that is what contributes to a better price of electricity in the country," Njenga said.
He said the company is exploring its own solar plant and investing more in geothermal to increase power generation to reduce cost of electricity.
