Page 13 - AfrElec Week 01 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

PV products when connected to an off-grid repair works on the network including Babungi highlighted a recovery in electricity
project. undertaking transformer maintenance and consumption among the large industrialists
carrying out reinforcement works to ensure and domestic demand.
continuous supply. “The large industrial customers, the top
The Company’s immediate focus, 40, their demand has gone up by 16%. These
INVESTMENT according to Mr. Ngugi, is to clear the backlog are Hima, Roofings and Tororo among others,
of faulty transformer replacements that has their demand is going up. When we asked
Kenya Power unveils $7mn been caused by disruption in supply chain why, they said there has been a lot of demand
from the region,” he revealed.
owing to trade restrictions set up to prevent
plan to reduce power cuts the spread of the corona virus pandemic. steel, cement from Pakistan or China have
He added; “Those who used to import
“Part of the work entails the installation
Kenya Power has launched a KES800mn and earthing of surge diverters on terminal found it difficult so Uganda is now exporting
($7mn) electricity network management transformers (those at the end of the more than it used to.”
programme aimed at maintaining the distribution line) to protect them from Bank of Uganda statistics indicate that the
electricity network countrywide for improved faults resulting from lightning strikes. It will country’s total exports grew to $419.4m in
quality of power supply to its customers. also encompass the installation of fuses to July from $386m in January before dropping
Speaking in Karatina, Nyeri County Kenya safeguard transformers from failure, as well as to $363.8m in October.
Power MD and CEO Bernard Ngugi said the re-sagging of conductors, “he added. Cement exports grew from 36,072 tonnes
company is carrying out a comprehensive in January to 40,539 tonnes in October.
audit of the country’s electricity network On domestic customers, he said demand
under the programme to identify issues for electricity has also grown by 6%, which
requiring corrective action and reinforcing the DEMAND the utility company attributes to increased
grid to enhance its robustness. numbers of people working from home.
“Good service delivery is anchored on Ugandan industrial power
effective management of both planned and
unplanned power outages. We are committed demand rises 16%
to ensuring that our customers enjoy quality
service by minimising disruptions during Demand for electricity from the top 40 large
planned maintenance programmes and industrialists in the country has increased
responding speedily to restore normalcy by 16% on account of increased regional
during unplanned outage situations,” said Mr. demand, Umeme managing director, Mr
Ngugi. Selestino Babungi has said.
The programme entails carrying out Speaking to journalists during the end-of-
proactive maintenance focusing on major year performance of the power distributor, Mr

Week 01 07•January•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P13