Markets & Finance

Shift to concrete electricity poles hurts wood suppliers

electricity poles

Kenya Power argues that even though concrete poles are more expensive than current wooden alternatives, they have a life span of more than 80 years. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A shift to concrete poles by Kenya Power and the Rural Electricity Authority (REA) has triggered disquiet among suppliers of wooden materials with a section of players accusing the two State agencies of bias. The two agencies – citing lower maintenance costs – have switched to concrete poles, locking out wooden material suppliers from their tenders.

In a latest single tender that closes tomorrow, for instance, Kenya Power is seeking 20,753 concrete poles for delivery to its stores in Eldoret, Embakasi, Dagoretti, Roysambu, Rabai, Kiganjo, Thika, Nakuru and Kisumu.

The sudden change has angered producers of wooden poles who now claim they risk running into insolvency due to large volumes of held stocks.

“Wood treatment plants are fully stocked with splendid poles and seasoned trees that are going to waste, which were procured with the hope that the Kenyan government was serious on its energy agenda,” the Kenya Wood Preservers Association, an umbrella body of manufacturers of wooden electricity poles, said.

“Some factories have already sent home employees while procuring entities continue to waste time, money and valuable resources with continuous tender cancellation and addendums,” the lobby group said.

READ: Kenya Power plans fibre glass poles rollout to cut costs

KPWA asked Kenya Power and REA to balance the uptake of both types of poles to ensure fairness among dealers. “Let us keep the concrete poles to only areas they must be in like swamps,” the association said.

Kenya Power denied the claims of bias and said wooden poles still played a big role in its distribution network.

“We are still taking wooden poles contrary to the claims by the association. We need to appreciate the fact that concrete poles are quite expensive and we cannot use them liberally,” said Migwi Theuri, head of communication at Kenya Power. 

In April the utility firm revealed it would roll out fibre glass poles to reduce electricity transmission costs, fast track connections to households and reduce the cost on timber poles. The listed power vendor says the fibre glass poles are stronger, lighter, more durable and sturdy enough to withstand rugged terrain compared to concrete and traditional wooden poles.

READ: Thika firm signs concrete poles deal with Kenya Power

Kenya Power said the poles – made from silica sand, limestone, soda ash and plastic – are impervious to rot, pests and require zero maintenance, which will have positive impact on electricity supply costs. The company argues that even though the poles are more expensive than current alternatives, they have a life span of more than 80 years, one-third longer than concrete poles and more than three times that of wooden poles’ average of 25 years.

“Fibreglass poles are ideal in salty, swampy, hilly places and require zero maintenance. They are lighter and do not require heavy machinery to erect, making them ideal for areas that are hard to access,” said Ben Chumo, chief executive at Kenya Power.

“Despite their initial high cost, fibre glass poles can reduce power outages by providing support during adverse weather that usually causes wooden poles to break or lean.”

Kenya Power says all new transmission lines will use concrete poles and will limit wooden poles to domestic connections. A 10-metre timber pole currently costs about Sh12,000 while a similar sized concrete pole retails at Sh18,000.

The power distributor says it needs Sh156 billion over the next five years to improve reliability of power supply by revamping its aged grid.