A man walk past huge rolls of under ground power cables at the Tononoka grounds. FILE
Electricity distributor Kenya Power targets to reduce cable maintenance costs on Mombasa Island by using underground power lines. The firm started replacing overhead cables in March and will complete the project covering 10km in July.
The project is partly funded through a $2.8 million (Sh238.3 million) World Bank loan and Sh36.7 million from the power firm.
Underground cables require no special maintenance, including protection from environmental pollution, a major cause of breakages at the Coast.
“We intend to reduce maintenance cost by up to 90 per cent with the underground lines,” said corporate communications officer Gregory Ngahu.
Kenya Power also cited vandalism as a challenge to the overhead power line.
The Mombasa Island line supplies industries, enterprises and residential estates. It is supplied by thermal generators at Kipevu to Makande sub-station.
KEC International of India won the tender, beating other 18 international firms to design, supply and install 33kV underground transmission lines between Kipevu and Mbaraki.
Kenya Power is planning to lay underground cables throughout Kenyan cities. The power distributor has in recent days come under criticism after several parts of the city were hit by frequent blackouts during the rains.
During the rainy seasons, the company reports huge losses when trees fall on the power lines.
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