USTDA Revitalizes Kenya Program With Six Power Africa Grants
September 21, 2016
(USTDA)
Announces diverse portfolio of energy
investments during U.S.-Africa Business Forum
New York, NY – Today, during the U.S.-Africa
Business Forum, the U.S. Trade and Development
Agency launched its largest single investment
in Kenya’s power sector to date. At a ceremony
witnessed by the Deputy President of the
Republic of Kenya, the Honorable William Ruto,
and Power Africa Coordinator Andrew Herscowitz,
USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak announced
support for six projects that will identify
U.S. solutions that can help increase access to
affordable, reliable electricity across Kenya
and help diversify the country’s energy mix.
During the ceremony, USTDA and its Kenyan
partners agreed to support the following
projects:
Gitaru Solar PV Plant: USTDA
Director Zak and Mr. Albert Mugo, Managing
Director and CEO, Kenya Electricity Generating
Company Limited (KenGen), signed a grant
agreement to support the development of a
10-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV)
project. The project, which is co-located with
an existing KenGen-owned hydro plant, will be
KenGen’s first utility scale solar asset.
Nyakwere Hills Solar PV Plant: USTDA
will partner with Quaint Energy Kenya Ltd. to
develop a 40 MW solar PV power plant in eastern
Kenya. Successful project implementation would
reduce or avoid tons of greenhouse gas
emissions per year as an alternative to fossil
fuel power sources. USTDA Director Zak and Mr.
Alfred Achar, Managing Director, Quaint Energy
Kenya, signed the grant agreement.
Solar Microgrid Solutions for Island
& Village Electrification: USTDA and
Renewable World East Africa, an energy access
non-profit organization, will develop minigrid
solar and battery storage systems at eight
locations across Kenya with a combined 1.5 MW
of new power generation capacity. Successful
implementation of the project would help to
electrify an estimated 4,500 households and
businesses. The feasibility study will be
conducted by U.S. company Renewvia Energy
Corporation (Atlanta, GA), which is sharing its
costs. Renewvia CEO Trey Jarrard signed the
cost share agreement along with USTDA Director
Zak.
Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant:
USTDA will partner with Akiira Geothermal
Limited to assess the viability of a 70 MW
geothermal power plant northwest of Nairobi.
Successful implementation of the project would
provide clean, baseload renewable power and
support Kenya’s participation in the regional
power pool. USTDA Director Zak and Mr. Paul
Stroud, a Board Member of Akiira Geothermal
Limited, signed the grant agreement.
Lamu Gas-to-Power Project: USTDA
Director Zak and Mr. Austen Titford, COO,
Zarara Oil & Gas Limited, concluded a grant
agreement to evaluate the technical, economic
and environmental aspects of the proposed Lamu
gas-to-power energy project on Pate Island. The
project will add 50-200 MW of new electricity
generation capacity to the island, located off
Kenya’s mainland in the Indian Ocean.
Isiolo Solar PV Power Plant: USTDA
will partner with Green Millennia Energy Ltd.
to develop a 40 MW solar PV power plant in the
city of Isiolo in central Kenya. U.S. solar
developer and PV manufacturer SunPower (San
Jose, CA) will conduct the feasibility study
and serve as the EPC contractor for the
project. Ms. Lida Fitts, USTDA’s Regional
Director for sub-Saharan Africa, signed the
cost share agreement along with Mr. Nam Nguyen,
SVP of Americas Power Plants, SunPower
Corporation.
“This Forum demonstrated the strength and
diversity of the U.S.-Africa economic
partnership,” said Director Zak. “USTDA is
pleased to play a leading role in identifying
U.S. solutions that can support Kenya’s energy
goals and strengthen commercial ties in order
to spur long-term, sustainable economic
growth.”
Together, these projects make Kenya the largest
country in USTDA’s portfolio in sub-Saharan
Africa – one year after the Agency relaunched
its program during President Obama’s visit to
the country. They also support the goals of
Power Africa, a U.S. government-led initiative
to increase electricity access across the
continent.
U.S. companies interested in contract
opportunities made possible by the USTDA
projects announced during the Forum should
follow www.fbo.gov for
notification of open solicitations.
Welcome to the Exporting Source
Your one-stop resource for finding help to export to new customers, to learn about government export programs, to join export-promoting trade missions, to sign up for trade conferences and training, and to link to other exporting services. Whether you're an old hand at exporting or just getting started, the Exporting Source provides a place to locate foreign customers, export financing and foreign investment assistance.