KenGen plans to generate 50 megawatts of electricity from garbage from a Nairobi dumpsite as it pushes to diversify its power sources and cut reliance on weather-dependent hydro-electric power.
The Sh9 billion power plant will be built once the Dandora dumpsite is moved to Ruai—both situated east of Nairobi. The plant will deepen electricity generation from renewable sources.
“We are assessing the feasibility report on the construction of a socially-conscious and commercially viable waste to energy plant within the Nairobi Metropolitan,” said Mr Eddy Njoroge, the managing director of KenGen. “The project is expected to convert municipal waste into electricity. We are working closely with the City Council.”
The process involves creating methane from burning the trash and the gas is then piped to an engine that generates electricity. The project would see Nairobi become the second city in Africa to launch a large-scale electricity generation project from garbage, the first being Durban in South Africa, which generates 6MW. It was developed by General Electric (GE) company.
Currently, Kenya has power generating capacity of about 1,100 MW, with hydro-power accounting for about 44 per cent.
But lack of water due to droughts has recently decreased operations, prompting the country to turn to expensive fuel-driven generators to match rising demand.
The fuel generators have helped lift electricity prices 65 per cent since the start of the year.
As a result, the country led by KenGen has stepped the search for power from renewable sources like geothermal, wind and solar to meet the growing demand for electricity cheaply.
The increased pursuit of renewable power is not only set to boost the country’s green credentials but will help the country and the power generators earn hundreds of millions shillings from carbon credits.
The decommissioning of the Dandora dumpsite is expected to cost Sh5.4 billion and is to be financed by the Japanese international development agency (JICA) and the UN.
Although details of the partnership between KenGen and the City Hall remain sketchy, the project will also open new income avenue for the council that faces cash flow challenge.
The Nairobi City Council is faced with growing needs for social infrastructure like better housing, hospitals, street lighting and transport system.
Several companies, including General Electric , Etech Miljo and MGM International have in the last two years expressed interest to partner with City Hall in developing the power -generating facility.
The entry of KenGen into the plan signals that City Hall has opted to deal with the State-owned power generator. The technology is widely used in Europe, especially in Italy, where most of the garbage is used to generate electricity.
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