Kenya modernises electricity grid to enhance power trade in Eastern Africa

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya is pursuing the modernisation of its national electricity power grid through an Euros 82 million project, to enhance the switch to modern power utility and enhanced regional trade in electricity, executives of a power firm said on Friday.
Kenya's National System Control Centre (NSCC), being built by the national grid operator, the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), will enable Kenya to commercialize electric power trade across the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
KETRACO Executives and Senior Kenyan government officials who received the French Minister for the Francophonie, Thani Mohammed Soilihi, said the construction of the modern NSCC will significantly enhance electricity infrastructure and grid stability, helping prevent blackouts and supporting the transition from diesel generators to reliable, green energy sources.
The project is expected to help Kenya to modernize infrastructure and assist in meeting the national goals of cutting on carbon emissions from electricity generation and transmission.
KETRACO said the project is crucial to the enhancement of the broader collaboration between Kenya and France on energy transition. 
KETRACO executives received Soilihi, the French Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships, for a site visit to the NSCC project site in Embakasi, Nairobi on Friday.
Mr. Alex Wachira, Permanent Secretary, State Department of Energy, and John Mativo, KETRACO Managing Director and CEO, emphasized the strong bilateral ties between Kenya and France in the project.
The construction contract has been awarded to a consortium comprising GE Vernova and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an example of collaboration between the  French financing and expertise in the energy sector in Kenya. 
"This initiative is a priority for Kenya, promising significant environmental benefits through better integration of renewable energy sources, social advantages by improving access to electricity, and economic gains by reducing outages and transmission losses," a joint statement issued by the European Union and KETRACO stated.
The project is expected to enhance real-time grid supervision and automated electricity dispatch.
It would also reduce unscheduled power outages and transmission losses, improve integration of renewable energy sources and strengthen regional interconnector coordination within the Eastern Africa Power Pool.
The Eastern Africa Power Pool aims to enhance regional commercial trade in electricity, enabling countries without enough electricity to access.
The power project in Kenya is expected to contribute towards enhanced readiness for future electricity market operations, in line with national and regional policy frameworks, according to KETRACO executives.
There are other ongoing works to enhance electricity infrastructure, including the development of a digital substation in Makindu, Eastern Kenya, technical assistance, completion of ongoing works on the Nairobi Ring and sectoral studies conducted by the Ministry of delegated to French financier, AFD, is allocated for capacity building in grid management, primarily benefiting KETRACO. 
"This project is a strong testament to the enduring partnership between Kenya and France in the energy and climate sectors. It is fully financed by France with two separate and complementary financing from AFD and the French Treasury," KETRACO said.
Some 1 billion euros worth of projects have been financed in Keny through the French financiers.
Arnaud Suquet, the French Ambassador to Kenya, said the ongoing construction of the electricity infrastructure projects would enhance interconnection within the national power grids across the Eastern and Southern Africa power pools. 
On 11th April 2025, the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector also benefiting from substantial EU support was launched in Lusaka, Zambia. 
Together with the NSCC, it represents a key investment to enable cross-border energy trade, expand transmission capacity, and strengthen reliable power supply.
The European Union is fully committed to stepping up and accelerating joint action in the development and deployment of renewable energy projects in Kenya and across Africa through the Global Gateway strategy, which brings together the European Union, its Member States, and billion in public and private investments by 2027, creating essential links.
The current project involves the design, supply, and installation of a dual- e Transmission System Operator, in line with the Kenya National Transmission Grid Code. 
The main control Centre will be situated at the Embakasi substation, with a mirrored Emergency Control Centre at the Suswa substation complex. 
Both will be equipped with high-performance Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)/Energy Management Systems (EMS) and an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system. 
At the same time, the project entails full integration of substation outstations and a comprehensive upgrade of the communication network to support seamless, secure data exchange across the national grid. 
The commercial contract entered into force on February 7, 2025, and the project is scheduled for completion within 36 months, by 6 February, 2028. 
The financing arrangement, initially signed on 14 March, 2019 (Reference: CKE 1127 01 J), is currently under extension through the National Treasury to align with revised timelines, according to the Kenyan government.
-0- PANA AO/RA 30May2025