Tag Archive | "kenya"

Williamson Tea solar installation is the East Africa’s largest PV plant


The Williamson Tea solar installation, located at its Changoi Tea Farm in Bomet County, Western Kenya, is claimed to be East Africa’s largest PV plant. The innovative solar system is designed to cut Williamson Tea’s energy costs by around 30%, supplying clean solar electricity during the daytime to meet most of the tea processing factory’s energy demand.

Williamson Tea’s system aims to reduce the need for grid electricity and the consumption of diesel when back-up energy production is required. When the national grid is working, Williamson Tea’s solar farm will work in parallel with the grid and reduce the amount of grid electricity imported. Conversely, when the grid is down, the solar power system will work together with the standby diesel generators, significantly reducing the amount of diesel consumed.

“Williamson Tea’s solar farm in Changoi is a shining example of the opportunity for solar in Africa, and indeed the emerging markets, to help meet the increasing energy demands of growing economies,” said Frans van den Heuvel, Solarcentury CEO. “Sustainable energy sources are becoming more critical, especially as the cost of fossil fuel energy continues to rise globally. By choosing solar, Williamson Tea is not only investing in the company’s sustainable future but also local people and the future of the tea farming industry in Kenya.”

Solarcentury, which served as the lead designer, supplier and installer of the unique PV system, is also responsible for the operation and maintenance. Local solar companies East African Solar and Azimuth Power were the developers for Williamson Tea’s solar farm.

Posted in Alternative Energy, Green Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar EnergyComments (0)

Kenya’s first commercial oil discovery to generate approximately $10 billion


Despite growing global interest in Kenya’s oil and gas industry, its first competitive licensing round has been postponed to at least Q4 2014; however, this delay could serve as a long-term benefit for the country’s economy, as well as its oil and gas industry, says an analyst with research and consulting firm GlobalData.

John Sisa, GlobalData’s Lead Analyst covering Upstream Oil & Gas in the Sub-Saharan region, states that international interest in Kenya’s oil and gas sector has intensified over the last 20 months, following Tullow Oil(Tullow) and Africa Oil Corporation’s announcement of the country’s first commercial oil discovery in block 10BB/13T within the South Lokichar Basin.

According to GlobalData, block 10BB/13T alone could generate approximately $10 billion in revenue over a 30-year production period, based on regional geological characteristics and well test results. This volume of cash flow alone will cause Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product, which is currently at $40.7 billion, to grow at an average yearly rate of 0.83%.

Sisa says: “The delay in Kenya’s first licensing round could prove beneficial to the country’s economy, as International Oil Companies (IOCs) could make additional, commercial oil and gas discoveries before the end of the year. This would in turn strengthen prospectivity and interest in the country’s oil and gas industry.

“Additionally, competition among IOCs during the delayed bidding process may be significantly greater than at present, and the round could include higher licensing costs and tougher fiscal terms that would maximize government revenues.”

Sisa believes that the Kenyan government has indicated its willingness to develop an early oil production facility by 2016, which would allow Tullow to produce oil from block 10BB/13T at marginal rates until the proper infrastructure is in place for shipment.

“This early monetization of oil reserves would generate more revenue for the Kenyan government’s budget and would therefore act as a crucial component of economic growth. Similarly fundamental in accelerating such growth is the proposed development of the Kenya-Uganda crude oil pipeline, which is designed to pass through block 10BB/13T and South Sudan,” the analyst says.

A new port is currently being developed in Lamu, Kenya, which would also host a new refinery that receives oil from Uganda, South Sudan and Tullow’s block 10BB/13T. GlobalData expects this refinery to be launched by 2018.

Posted in Fossil FuelsComments (0)


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