Electric lines ruling paves way for cheaper geothermal power

Households and industries will in the next four months start enjoying cheaper geothermal power after the High Court lifted orders that had stopped works on the Nairobi–Mombasa electricity transmission line.

Judge John Mativo last week set aside an injunction earlier awarded to five landowners stopping the Ministry of Energy and the project’s contractors from proceeding with the line pending hearing and determination of their court case. Mumbai-based Kalpataru Power is now racing to complete the 482 kilometre Mombasa – Nairobi power transmission line, which has been dogged by headwinds related to land acquisition in Kajiado. German firm Siemens is constructing high-voltage substations at Isinya, Rabai and Embakasi.