NAIROBI, Kenya, May 23 – Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson launched the Kenya Green Resilient Electricity System Programme during the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency.
The initiative, which was unveiled with the support of Global Gateway, Europe’s investment strategy initiative for the world, will support the nation’s goal of a complete 100 percent transition to clean power generation by 2030.
It also aims to boost Kenya’s sustainable energy efforts by providing critical investments to expand the country’s production of green electricity as well as improving grid stability and efficiency.
“By making the Kenyan energy system more resilient, efficient and clean, the programme definitely contributes to Kenya’s energy and climate goals, powering socio-economic growth and transformation. It will also support reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and green industrialization,” said CS Chirchir.
The program has been developed under the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative in close cooperation with the Kenyan government and Team Europe partners, including the European Investment Bank (EIB) and KfW Development Bank.
The government, in collaboration with Team Europe, the world’s biggest climate finance contributor, will commit up to Sh36 billion as investment to finance the program, including a contribution of Sh2.8 billion in grants provided by the European Union.
The European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, affirmed that the program will also provide technical assistance and capacity building for the Kenyan implementing partners to ensure the successful and timely implementation of the project components.
“The programme will support Kenya’s socioeconomic development and green transition. It boosts the renewable energy sector by increasing electricity generation capacity, through additional generation from hydro, geothermal and solar sources, and strengthening reliability and efficiency of the transmission system,” stated Simson, European Commissioner.
