Kenya Power and Lightning Company (KPLC) has unveiled a backup National Control Centre to safeguard the security of electricity supply across the country.
In a statement on Thursday, March 28, KPLC said the backup control centre which will be domiciled in the Coast region will provide an alternative power dispatch point in case of failure of the main National Control Centre.
The facility will receive electricity from various sources and dispatch it to consumers across the country guided by a merit order that considers various factors such as cost and demand.
It will also serve as a training centre to boost power system operators' capacity and technical skills.
"Our grid is expanding rapidly with increased customer numbers and this calls for the deployment of strategic initiatives that are meant to secure and strengthen the quality of power supply. The backup national control centre is one such initiative that we have undertaken," said Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror.
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He noted that the company is focused on strengthening the power network through refurbishment of the existing infrastructure and construction of new lines to provide alternative supply points to our customers to minimize power outages.
According to KPLC, the backup National Control Centre was set up for Sh 50 million financed by a grant from GIZ under the Power System Readiness for Integration of Variable Renewable Energies (VRE).
Kenya is the first East African nation to set up a backup national control centre. Other countries in Africa that operate backup national control centres include South Africa, Algeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Egypt.
