CS Wandayi Defends Adani’s Energy Sector Takeover, Reveals ‘Master Plan’
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi emphasized key reasons why the government needed to collaborate with the Adani Group on Monday, despite widespread opposition to the deal.
During an address at the KAWI Complex, the CS urged the public and other stakeholders to embrace Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), which he claimed would fill a significant gap in Kenya’s energy sector.
Wandayi stated that Kenya needed to work with powerful private investors such as Adani to ensure grid stability and adequacy.
“Adani Energy Solutions privately owns more energy infrastructure than Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania combined,” he said.
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi talks up Adani Group's capacity to undertake KETRACO multibillion shilling power lines project pic.twitter.com/dUM92X5E6M
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) September 16, 2024
“Adani serves over 13 million consumer meters in metropolitan Mumbai and the industrial hub of Mundra SEZ.”
According to the CS, Kenya was considering implementing new generation energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal, but the country lacked adequate transmission to deliver power to industries.
Wandayi also mentioned Adani Energy Solution Limited’s portfolio, which includes the installation of a transmission network of 21,783 circuit kilometers of power transmission lines.
The Energy company, which is part of the larger Indan Adani Holdings Group, wants to oversee the construction of a 222-kilometer 400-kV transmission line connecting Gilgil, Thika, Malaa, and Konza.
There are also plans to build a 400/220/132 kV substation in Ronga. All of these projects were previously managed by Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO).
According to KETRACO’s “master plan,” the projects are scheduled to be completed between 2026 and 2027.
Wandayi stated that KETRACO has relied on the government and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to maintain the development transmission lines since 2008.
Wandayi stated that partnering with the Indian conglomerate will effectively end this challenge.
The government has since formed an evaluation committee to conduct due diligence on the involved parties, and the committee’s findings will be released to the public.
CS Wandayi Defends Adani’s Energy Sector Takeover, Reveals ‘Master Plan’
