Kenya’s Thika Power gets $35 million investment boost

• 11 years ago (2012-06-05)
• David Flin

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Kenya’s Thika Power has received a $35 million investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to help develop an IPP near Nairobi. The planned 87 MW heavy fuel oil plant will sell all its output to the national distributor, Kenya Power. This will help diversify Kenya’s electricity supply mix away from dependence on hydropower.

The Thika project is the result of the Kenyan government’s tender of three power plants in 2009, to encourage private sector participation in electricity supply. Samer Nasr, Managing Director of Melec PowerGen, said: “With the massive growth in energy demand in Africa, IPPs can add reliable and sustainable capacity to the power network. To successfully implement an IPP, you need a partner with extensive knowledge and experience, as well as a country that enjoys stability and has the required structures. We believe both Kenya Power and Kenya have all of these, and are leading the way in the development of electrical infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa.”

The $140 million Thika Power Plant Project is a subsidiary of the Lebanese firm Melec PowerGen.