China’s Dongfang Electric International Corporation (DEC) is set to build a $100,000 solar power plant in Kenya,a move that will help power the country.
DEC, one of China’s biggest global contractor for power generation, electric and mechanical works, power distribution and transmission, railways, environmental protection, heavy duty mining and metallurgy equipment, traffic and transportation, communication will set up the plant in Kenya’s Nakuru County.
DEC will set up a 50 megawatts of solar energy plant at $100 million (Sh8.5 billion) then redirect it to the national grid.
Nakuru County governor Mr Kinuthia Mbugua told the Business Daily that the he was in talks with the firm for a memorandum of agreement which will be signed later this month.
Mbugua told the paper: “We will do some few adjustments like on the timeframe before we sign this month. They will send their technical staff to embark on holistic assessment with our staff immediately.”
According to Dongfang VP Hu Weidong, 100 acres of land would be needed for the project. The first phase of the project is expected to take three years. The project will be funded by both the Kenyan and Chinese governments.
Experts from Dongfang are at the moment surveying the county, though the studies are expected to take a year.