KILIFI, Kenya – The 400/220 kV Mariakani Substation has been energised by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), giving residents of Kenya’s coastal region cause for celebration.
This initiative brings an end to years of power instability and reduces reliance on expensive diesel generators by providing dependable, stable, and sufficient electricity for households, businesses, the hotel industry, and small- and large-scale manufacturing enterprises throughout the Coastal region.
The Mariakani substation is a crucial electricity gateway connecting the Coast to the national transmission system in Nairobi. By strengthening this connection at 400 kV, KETRACO is opening the door to a steady supply of energy that will boost industrial development, draw investment, and enhance millions of Kenyans’ daily lives.
The Nairobi-Mombasa Transmission Line, which aims to carry more than 1000 MW of electricity between the two areas and relieve demand on the Coast’s power network, includes the powered Mariakani substation.
The strength of the regional interconnected power system is supported by Kenya’s national power transmission grid, which is strategically reinforced by the 400/220 kV Mariakani Substation. To fully reap the operational benefits of the 500 kV Ethiopia-Kenya and 400 kV Kenya-Tanzania Interconnectors, the grid must be strengthened.
Additionally, by enabling more geothermal electricity from Olkaria, wind power from Lake Turkana Wind Plant, and hydropower from Ethiopia to reach the coast region, the substation will be crucial to Kenya’s efforts to achieve 100% clean energy by 2030.
“With this development, the Coast will significantly reduce its reliance on expensive and polluting diesel power, especially during peak evening hours. Cleaner, reliable and stable energy will now flow more efficiently, lowering costs and stabilising supply,” said KETRACO Acting Managing Director Eng. Kipkemoi Kibias.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Kenyan government collaborated to finance the Mariakani Substation, which came at a total cost of Sh 3 billion.
Under the direction of KETRACO engineers, China CAMC Eng. Co. Ltd. was the project’s implementing contractor. Strong faith in Kenya’s energy future is demonstrated by this partnership.
How were the KERRACO transmission lines designed
In addition to the substation, AfDB is the primary financier of the transmission lines that connect Mariakani to Rabai and Nairobi. Among them are the 220 kV double-circuit line from Mariakani to Rabai and the 400 kV double-circuit transmission line from Isinya to Mariakani.
The Mombasa-Nairobi Transmission Line Project’s second phase is completed with the 400/220 kV Mariakani Substation.
The first phase included the double-circuit transmission lines from 220 kV Rabai Substation to 220 kV Embakasi Substation near the Internal Container Depot (ICD) in Nairobi. The double-circuit transmission line was designed for 220 kV between Rabai Substation and Mariakani Substation and 400 kV from the Mariakani Substation to the 220 kV Athi River Substation through the 400 kV Isinya Substation, then 220 kV between the Athi River Substation and the 220 kV Embakasi Substation through a 6.7km, 220 kV Underground Cable through the Nairobi National Park.
The transmission line between the 220kV Rabai Substation and the 220kV Embakasi Substation is 492km long. Since 2017, the transmission line has been running at a voltage of 220 kV. The African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Kenyan government all contributed to the Sh 17 billion total cost of this project’s initial phase.
In order to increase the transmission line capacity between the two substations by boosting the voltage from 220 kV to 400 kV, Phase II of the project involved building the 400/220 kV Mariakani and 400/220 kV Isinya substations.
Why the Mariakani power project is a game-changer
The 400 kV Isinya Substation was completed in the year 2022 and with the 400 kV Mariakani Substation being energised, the cycle of the entire 400 kV Mombasa-Nairobi Transmission Line comes to an end with the benefits of increased transmission line capacity to the coastal region of over 1000 MW of clean electrical energy from hydro, geothermal and wind; reduced technical power losses, thus reducing the cost of power; and reinforcement of the coastal power grid, thereby improving the system reliability and stability. Phase II of this project cost Sh 7 billion.
Beyond boosting power supply, the project improves power quality, reliability and grid stability, ensuring the Coast region is fully integrated into Kenya’s modern, clean and resilient electricity network.
The project ensures that the Coast region is completely integrated into Kenya’s contemporary, clean, and resilient energy network by improving power quality, dependability, and grid stability in addition to increasing power supply.
In addition to the substation, AfDB is the primary financier of the transmission lines that connect Mariakani to Rabai and Nairobi. Among them are the 220 kV double-circuit line from Mariakani to Rabai and the 400 kV double-circuit transmission line from Isinya to Mariakani.
The Mombasa-Nairobi Transmission Line Project’s second phase is finished with the 400/220 kV Mariakani Substation.
The double-circuit transmission lines from the 220 kV Rabai Substation to the 220 kV Embakasi Substation, which is close to Nairobi’s Internal Container Depot (ICD), were part of the first phase.
Who contributed to the Mariakani power project
The double-circuit transmission line was intended to carry 220 kV from the Rabai Substation to the Mariakani Substation, 400 kV from the Mariakani Substation to the 220 kV Athi River Substation via the 400 kV Isinya Substation, and 220 kV from the Athi River Substation to the 220 kV Embakasi Substation via a 6.7 km, 220 kV subterranean National Park.
The transmission line between the 220kV Rabai Substation and the 220kV Embakasi Substation is 492km long. Since 2017, the transmission line has been running at a voltage of 220 kV. The African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Kenyan government all contributed to the project’s initial phase, which cost KES 17 billion.
In order to increase the transmission line capacity between the two substations by boosting the voltage from 220 kV to 400 kV, Phase II of the project involved building the 400/220 kV Mariakani and 400/220 kV Isinya substations.
The cycle of the entire 400 kV Mombasa-Nairobi Transmission Line comes to an end with the completion of the 400 kV Isinya Substation in 2022 and the energisation of the 400 kV Mariakani Substation. The benefits include increased transmission line capacity to the coastal region of over 1000 MW of clean electrical energy from hydros, geothermal and wind; reduced technical power losses that lower power costs; and reinforcement of the coastal power grid, which improves system stability and dependability. This project’s second phase cost Sh 7 billion.
The project ensures that the Coast region is completely integrated into Kenya’s contemporary, clean, and resilient energy network by improving power quality, dependability, and grid stability in addition to increasing power supply.
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