French firm to run logistics for Turkana Wind Power project

President Uhuru Kenyatta unveils a commemorative plaque during the ground breaking ceremony of the Lake Turkana Wind Power project at Sarima, Marsabit County 

In Summary

• The logistics arm, Bolloré Africa Logistics operates MCT, a Container Freight Station in Mombasa and says it has invested Sh1.5 billion ($15 Million) to acquire additional specialized equipment to ferry the turbines that are massive in size and weight.
• The wind farm site which will cover 40,000 acres is located in Loyangalani District, Marsabit West County, in north-eastern Kenya, approximately 50km north of South Horr Township.

By OTIATO GUGUYU
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French investment and industrial holding group’s African subsidiary Bolloré Africa Logistics, has won a contract to operate logistics for the 310MW wind power project in Turkana.

Vestas Wind Systems which is supplying 365 wind turbines for the Lake Turkana Wind Power Plant has hired the logistics company to facilitate customs operations and transport of this extra-ordinary cargo from the port of Mombasa to the project site in Loyangalani District, Marsabit West County, a distance of 1,220km.

The logistics arm, Bolloré Africa Logistics operates MCT, a Container Freight Station in Mombasa and says it has invested Sh1.5 billion ($15 Million) to acquire additional specialized equipment to ferry the turbines that are massive in size and weight.

“As a company that is strongly committed to the development of Kenya and the continent, Bolloré Africa Logistics is proud to partner with Vestas Wind Systems and the Lake Turkana Project team on this landmark project that is set to positively impact the country’s economic and social structure,” Bolloré Africa Logistics CEO for East Africa, Jason Reynard said.

UPGRADING

The wind farm site which will cover 40,000 acres is located in Loyangalani District, Marsabit West County, in north-eastern Kenya, approximately 50km north of South Horr Township.

The project also includes upgrading of the existing road from Laisamis to the wind farm site, which is partly financed by the Dutch Government and is a distance of approximately 204km.

In addition, the project will build an access road network in and around the site for construction, operations, and maintenance.

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (Ketraco), with concessional funding from the Spanish Government, is constructing a double circuit 400kV, 428km transmission line to deliver electricity from the power project along with power from other future plants to the national grid.