Firms seek separate lines to curb outages

KAM chief executive Betty Maina. Photo/FILE 

By NEVILLE OTUKI

Industrialists have called for speedy connection of dedicated power lines to large businesses following a four-hour blackout that hit key economic hubs of Nairobi, Nakuru, Mount Kenya and the Coast on Monday.

 

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) said large power consumers are most exposed whenever there is an unforeseen collapse in the power system, thus the need to have separate lines.

This came after several parts of the country experienced a blackout between 11.25am and 2.30pm, crippling business operations, especially industries.

“Kenya Power should expedite the setting up of alternative power lines for large businesses to avoid such occurrences which often result in losses,” said KAM chief executive Betty Maina.

Kenya Power recently announced it would invest Sh2 billion in creating additional power lines in the next two years targeted at heavy power consumers. This follows previous system collapse.

The bourse-listed power distributor, however, had yet to establish the cause of the outage by the time we went to press.

“Currently, generation system logs are being analysed by the respective generation entities at the Coast to determine what triggered the outage of the machines,” said Migwi Theuri, Kenya Power’s deputy communications manager.

This comes amid fears of load-shedding following low-water levels in hydroelectricity generating zones due to rain delays. The utility has now resorted to heavy use of expensive diesel-powered generators.

The fuel adjustment surcharges on this month’s electricity bills are set to rise to a two-year high.

The Energy Regulatory Commission recently said it will raise the fuel surcharge from the current Sh5.19 to Sh7.22 on bills to be settled next month.