Namanga town and its environs will from today benefit from stable, reliable electricity supply following the energization of Isinya – Namanga 132kV transmission line project.
This development marks significant milestone in enhancing power reliability in Namanga border town and surrounding areas. The area will now receive stable power from KETRACO’s 132/33kV substation situated in Namanga.
The area was previously served using a 140km 33kV medium voltage line from the KPLC 66/33kV substation near Kitengela. The substation also serves Athi River, EPZ, Kitengela, parts of Machakos, Isinya, Kajiado town among other load centers. The long 33Kv to Namanga affected the reliability and quality of power supplied to the area.
The new transmission infrastructure will allow stable power to flow from the Olkaria Geothermal fields and Kipeto Wind Plant to Namanga.
Although the line has been shortened the area between Isinya town and Namanga town is being supplied from the 132/33kV Isinya substation, KETRACO continues expanding the high voltage infrastructure in the county.
The new substation in Namanga will offer KPLC an additional 33kV feeder line to serve the area in Namanga ensuring fewer large power consumers share the same feeder line.
This project improves end user power supply quality by supplying adequate and reliable power to the industrial and domestic load in Namanga and its environs hence improve the socio-economic benefits of the area, reinforce the existing distribution network that will enhance reduction in technical losses, improved power quality and reliability.
It will increase access to electricity in Namanga and its environs by accelerating connection rates and enhance power supply capacity and meet the growing demand of Namanga and the surrounding areas.
The project, which is a major game-changer in the transmission sector was jointly funded by Kenya Government and the Exim Bank of India. North China Power Engineering (China) is the contractor.
“This line will reduce technical loses and improve voltage conditions, thereby coping with additional demand in Isinya, Kajiado, Kumpa, Abisil, Nyatatoek, Namanga and surrounding areas,” said KETRACO MD, Dr. John Mativo.
Dr. Mativo thanked the project’s commissioning team, KETRACO staff, the contractor, consultant, financiers, and all stakeholders who made it possible to complete the transmission line project without hitches.