KETRACO Finishes Key Power Line Restoration to Cut Blackouts
Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) has completed the full restoration of the Loiyangalani–Suswa 400kV Double Circuit Transmission Line, a major development expected to ease frequent power outages in northern Kenya.
The repair project was estimated at Ksh46.13 million and USD 1,598,660, which totals around Ksh207 million. Its main goal was to strengthen the reliability of the national grid and ensure smooth evacuation of electricity from the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) plant.
The restoration involved replacing six transmission towers that had collapsed near Longonot. Their collapse had interfered with the steady transmission of electricity from the LTWP plant to the national grid, causing instability in supply.
In addition to fixing the towers, the works included conductor stringing and installation of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), both critical for safe and efficient movement of power across high-voltage lines.
To carry out the project, KETRACO hired a private contractor through an agreement signed in November 2024, and the works were organised in two phases to ensure controlled reconnection and system testing.
The first phase saw Circuit 1 energised on September 20, which partially brought the grid back to operation. The second phase, involving Circuit 2, is set for energisation on September 28. Once that is complete, the entire line will resume its full operational capacity.
With full restoration, the line will be able to transmit up to 300 megawatts of wind energy from the LTWP plant, boosting Kenya’s clean energy supply and improving grid stability across the country.
KETRACO also aims to phase out the use of a temporary bypass that had been in place following the collapse. That bypass was prone to repeated failures and posed risks to consistent electricity flow.
While commissioning the restored infrastructure, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi noted that the renewed transmission capacity will deliver cleaner and more affordable electricity to Kenyans, especially communities in the northern region.
The completion of the Loiyangalani–Suswa line also came just a day after the appointment of Kipkemoi Kibias as KETRACO’s Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Kibias is a registered professional engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya and a corporate member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK).
He also sits on the Nuclear Committee of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), adding technical leadership to the agency at a critical time for Kenya’s energy sector.
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