The outlook of Kenya’s energy sector is promising following the launch of the second phase of the Sondu Miriu hydroelectric power project.

The completion of the Sangoro power plant scheduled for 2011 is expected to inject an additional 21.2 megawatts.

This, says KenGen’s Sondu Miriu hydroelectric power project manager Alfred Abiero, will bring the grand production of Sondu Miriu to 81.2 megawatts.

Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, a Chinese construction company, is handling the construction at the Sangoro Power plant project while Nippon Koei of Japan is the consultant engineer.

The two firms won the bids in an international tender placed by KenGen. “The Sangoro Hydropower project gives us a chance to generate more power to meet the country’s energy requirements,” Mr Abiero told journalists who recently toured the site. “Work at the new site has started in earnest and we are confident it will be completed on time,” he added.

Sangoro power project is expected to cost Sh4.5 billion with the New Japan International Cooperation Agency (New Jica) sponsoring it to the tune of Sh3 billion and KenGen contributing the remainder of the funds.

Besides putting up the hydropower generation station, the Chinese contractor will also construct a five-kilometre transmission line to connect Sang’oro to the main Sondu Miriu power station to be stepped down to Kisumu substation. The Sang’oro power plant will also incorporate the nearby Magwagwa dam.

The first phase of the Sondu Miriu was officially launched in 2007 with the funding from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), now New Jica. It injects 60 megawatts into the national grid. The Sangoro power plant is among more than 10 other ongoing power generation projects across the country.

^^the government with its own problem have really done tremendous job in upscaling infrastructure development.:bow::bow::applause:

Date of completion is this year. Did it get off the ground?

Yes it did Sondu Miriu is U/C if not completed i think I went to school near there the Japanesse are doing a splendid job there.

Sondu miriu is already complete and Songoro is well under way for completion later in the year..........the songoro plant will inject 21.1 MW in the national grid. However, all these projects are dwarfed by the country's need for energy...take this, Kenya needs not less than 3000MW injected into the grid within the next 6 years whether or not we are to attain MDGs. Injecting a mere 21MW into the grid is like chicken feed to a hungry elephant....What Kenya need's is a Grand project to inject atleast 1500 MW into the grid and that can only be Nuclear!!