A South Korean company Daewoo International has signed a deal to build a $1.3 billion (KES 110.5 billion) power station in Kilifi County, with the Kenyan Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). The coal-fired power station will be the largest in East Africa, with two turbines each producing 300 megawatts, the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
South Korean builders have been stepping up its reach in securing African construction projects, with total value of deals signed as of November 18 up 28% from last year, according to the International Contractors Association of Korea.
Kenya currently has a total installed power capacity of 1,215MW and peak demand can reach 1,150MW and the government has identified generation of power from clean coal as one of the flagship projects towards attaining the Vision 2030. Energy remains one of the biggest threats to Kenya’s dream of being Africa’s hub for creativity and innovation, as scarcity of power is hampering the country’s appeal as an investment destination.