Tatu City signs up Kenya Power

Kenya Power and Tatu City, the mixed-use, mixed-income development near Nairobi, have signed a partnership to deliver power to Tatu City’s residents and businesses.

Implemented in stages, the partnership will see the construction of nine initial substations over three years, sufficient for power demands for the Kijani Ridge residential area, the central business district and Tatu Industrial Park, as well as infrastructure such as street lighting and the project’s water pumping station.

The second stage of the agreement will inaugurate a 110MVA substation, switching stations and a distribution network for power demand levels as Tatu City grows towards its estimated population of 100,000 residents, with tens of thousands of day visitors.

Speaking after signing the deal, Nick Langford, Kenya Country Head for Rendeavour, Tatu City’s owner and developer, said Tatu City’s current stage of development requires increased power supply for major residential and industrial projects.

“Early this year, Tatu City engaged Power Engineers, one of America’s largest power consulting engineering firms, to guide Tatu City on its power requirements,” Langford said. “We have always placed a premium on Tatu City’s infrastructure, and we are pleased to have agreed a comprehensive power solution with Kenya Power.”

Tatu City’s first residential phase, Kijani Ridge, has received strong interest from the market, with more than 70% of plots sold.

More than a dozen companies have announced plans to move to Tatu Industrial Park, including Dormans Ltd, Kim-Fay East Africa Ltd, Maiden Lane, Bidco, Chandaria Industries, and global consumer giant Unilever, which will build its manufacturing facility within Tatu City’s 420-acre light industrial zone.

Kenya Power’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ben Chumo, said the company continues to invest in power infrastructure and is in a position to supply uninterrupted power to large-scale developments like Tatu City.

“Kenya Power is pleased to conclude this agreement with Tatu City, and to provide power solutions to such a revolutionary project,” Chumo said.

About Kenya Power (www.kplc.co.ke)
Kenya Power owns and operates most of the electricity transmission and distribution systems in the country and sells electricity to over 4.8 million customers (as of June 29, 2016). The Company’s key mandate is to plan for sufficient electricity generation and transmission capacity to meet demand; building and maintaining the power distribution and transmission network, and retailing of electricity to its customers. The Government has a controlling stake at 50.1% of shareholding with private investors at 49.9%. Kenya Power is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.