Nairobi, December 27th (Xinhua) -- After years of continuous promotion, the Kenya National Grid Upgrade Project - the 132 kV transmission lines LOT1 and LOT2 project, undertaken by China International Engineering Corporation (referred to as "China International"), has been fully completed and successfully delivered electricity. On December 22nd local time, Kenyan President William Ruto attended the power transmission ceremony of the "Lysos Kabalnet" transmission line at the Kabalnet substation in Baringo County and cut the ribbon for the project, marking important progress in the construction of power infrastructure in northern Kenya and the Great Rift Valley region.

The project was implemented through a business contract signed between China International Engineering Corporation and Kenya Power Transmission Company in April 2019, and is an important component of Kenya's national power grid upgrade plan. The project covers the construction of 5 132 kV transmission lines, including 182 tower foundations, 359 tower assemblies, and the installation and supply of equipment and materials for over 250 kilometers of transmission lines. The project is located in multiple areas such as Kitui County, Nakuru County, Nandi County, Balingo County, and Laikipia County.

As one of the countries with rapid economic development and population growth in East Africa, Kenya's electricity demand has continued to rise in recent years. Some areas have long relied on distribution systems with low voltage levels and high operating loads, posing challenges to power supply stability and safety. Promoting the upgrading of the backbone power grid and improving cross regional transmission capacity has become a practical need to ensure the electricity supply for people's livelihoods, support industrial development, and promote regional balanced development.

The Lysos Kabalnet transmission line is a key line for the construction and transmission of electricity in the northern region of Kenya in this project. The total length of the line is about 65 kilometers, replacing the original 33 kV power supply system with a 132 kV high-voltage transmission network, significantly improving the carrying capacity and operational reliability of the power grid. After the completion of the project, the local power supply capacity and voltage quality have significantly improved, providing a more stable energy guarantee for the long-term development of the region.

The operation of this project has direct significance for improving people's livelihoods. Stable electricity provides reliable energy support for medical institutions in Balingor County and surrounding areas, effectively ensuring the safe operation of medical services such as surgery, emergency treatment, maternal and child health care, and vaccine cold chain; At the same time, it also creates conditions for the stable operation of schools, water supply facilities, and public service systems, and improves the quality of life of residents.

At the industrial level, improving electricity conditions can help reduce energy costs for small and medium-sized enterprises and agricultural product processing enterprises, enhance production continuity and market competitiveness, provide basic support for the large-scale processing and value enhancement of local specialty industries such as coffee, dairy products, cotton, and fruits, and promote employment growth and income improvement.

From the perspective of national energy structure and regional interconnectivity, the Lysos Kabalnet transmission line will also be connected to the planned "Kabalnet Rumuruti" transmission projects, further improving the power grid structure in northern and central Kenya, creating conditions for the grid connection and cross regional transmission of clean energy such as geothermal, hydropower, and wind power, helping to enhance the level of clean energy utilization, strengthen the overall stability and dispatch capacity of the national power grid.

In addition to this project, Zhonggong International is currently advancing multiple power and infrastructure projects in Kenya. Among them, the Marianakani 400 kV substation project located in the coastal area is an important node of Kenya's national backbone power grid. After completion, it will significantly enhance the power transmission and dispatch capabilities in the coastal area, providing energy security for port logistics, industrial parks, and urban development.

Industry insiders believe that as the above-mentioned projects are gradually completed and put into operation, the carrying capacity and coverage level of Kenya's power infrastructure will continue to improve, providing more solid energy support for economic growth, industrial upgrading, and regional coordinated development, and injecting new momentum into deepening cooperation between China and Kenya in the fields of infrastructure and sustainable development.

Editor: Jiang Yani