The Garissa solar plant project estimated to cost Sh13.5 billion in Balambala Sub County is expected to be complete by September 2018.
The project, which is the biggest in Central and East Africa, lies on an 80-acre piece of land and will consist of 300,000 solar panels and is expected to light more than 200,000 households. The project is implemented with the aim to replace the expensive and environmental hazardous diesel powered engines.
The CEO of Rural Electrification Authority Peter Mbugua said the project will inject an additional 54 megawatts of power into the national grid as the country moves towards adopting emerging clean energy technology.
The project is being implemented by the government but funded by EXIM Bank of China. On completion, the power from the plant will be connected to the national grid at Raya sub-station.
“We are happy with the progress since we have a target to deliver the project by September. The local leadership has helped us in achieving this,” Mbugua said.
“The project will go a long way in stabilizing power supply in Garissa town and its environs,” he added.
Mbugua who was accompanied by engineers from China Jiangxi International Kenya Limited said the government was in consultation with other development partners to expanding the project to Wajir and Mandera counties.
This was implemented a year after President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the national grid power line from Kindaruma constructed by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company.