Dalbit International chairman Humphrey Kariuki (right) presents linen to
the then Kenyatta National Hospital chief executive Dr Simeon Monda
when the company donated Sh8 million for renovation, medical equipment
and linen at the hospital on November 04, 2013. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE
OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
By CHARLES MWANIKI
In Summary
- Mr Kariuki’s firm GL Africa Energy, which is based in the UK, will build and operate the 250 megawatt gas-powered plant in north eastern Mozambique.
- The gas concession is the second foray into the Southern Africa energy sector for GL Africa, which was established in 2013.
- It is also the operator of a 103 megawatt thermal power plant in Ndola, Zambia.
- The Mozambican agency did not indicate the expected date of commissioning of the new plant.
Kenyan tycoon Humphrey Kariuki has won a Sh37.5 billion tender to build a gas power plant in Mozambique.
Mr Kariuki’s firm GL Africa Energy, which is based in the
UK, will build and operate the 250-megawatt gas-powered plant in
northeastern Mozambique.
The gas concession is the second foray into the
Southern Africa energy sector for GL Africa, which was established in
2013. It is also the operator of a 103 megawatt thermal power plant in
Ndola, Zambia.
“GL Africa Energy UK is among three firms that have
been selected from 14 firms that originally bid for the natural gas
development projects in the Ruvuma gas basin.
Norway’s Yara will produce fertilisers and 30-50 MW
of electricity, while Shell Mozambique will produce diesel and 50-80MW
of power,” the National Petroleum Institute of Mozambique said in a
statement.
Commissioning date
The Mozambican agency did not indicate the expected
date of commissioning of the new plant, with the gas fields that will
supply the commodity to the power firms still under development.
The Kenyan tycoon maintains interests in a large
number of well-known Kenyan businesses, which include oil marketer
Dalbit Petroleum, Africa Spirits Limited, WOW Beverages, Fairmont Mount
Kenya Safari Club and the Hub Mall in Karen.
He was also the owner of a popular Nairobi eatery, Green Corner Restaurant.
His oil firm Dalbit has operations in a number of other African countries including Tanzania, DR Congo, Zambia and South Sudan.
The businessman has also been entangled in
controversy in the past, most notably when he was pulled into the
Charterhouse Bank controversy in January 2001 after the Central Bank of
Kenya froze the account of a business he owned — Crucial Properties
Limited — due to a large inward transfer of Sh2 billion.
Mr Kariuki maintained the legitimacy of the large
transfer, saying it was part of a $150 million package the company had
negotiated with international lenders to be invested in Kenya.
The firm withdrew up to Sh1.6 billion from the account after the High court lifted the account freeze orders five months later.
cmwaniki@ke.nationmedia.com
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