Automation of power supply system underway, says Njoroge

Mombasa and Nairobi residents will soon have improved power services following launch of a Sh600 million project to automate power distribution and monitoring in the two towns.

The project entails use of modern automatic system to improve efficiency in service delivery by cutting down time consumed to identify and locate faults in the power network.

Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Njoroge said the installation of modern and versatile equipment will enable automatic identification of faults occurring in the power distribution line to improve service delivery.

Mr Njoroge said the new system will reduce cases of power surge currently experienced in the manual system.

“The system will detect and locate any power faulty occurring within power distribution network hence reduce cost and time of Kenya Power teams to travel to different sites to identify problem,” said Mr Njoroge.

Speaking during the launch of the a distribution automation project at Rabai Sub Station, the MD said the automation of the Mombasa network will be carried out by Lucy Electric Company of the United Kingdom while Elmor Electricity Limited, an Israel firm, has been contracted to automate Nairobi network.

He said once the project is completed, the Company will be able to meet its increasing clients’ expectations.

“The system will be controlled in one point and it will involved automating all overhead switches sites in different points including at the transformers and on concrete poles which are being installed in different regions,” he said.

The Managing Director also said the company has embarked on radical projects to modernise power distribution networks in the country.

“We have built more than six new substations and rehabilitated eight others at a cost of more than Sh1.55 billion since 2007 while in the past seven years, we have invested more than Sh40 billion on infrastructure development,” said Mr Njoroge.