Kenya’s cement company Bamburi Cement Plc is set to develop two solar power plants. The step is towards decarbonization and a commendable effort in promoting clean and cost-effective energy in Kenya.
The firm signed crucial agreements, including the Land Lease Agreement (LLA), Connection Facilities Agreement (CFA), Conditions Precedence (CP) Satisfaction, and Construction Start Date Letters with MOMNAI Energy Limited. MOMNAI Energy Limited, an independent power producer formed for the project by Frontier Energy, is a prominent African renewable energy developer and investor.
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Net Zero carbon emissions
The project has secured licenses from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for Electric Power Generation and Electric Power Distribution and Supply. Environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA) approval from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has been obtained. County approvals for Land Change of Use have also been acquired.
The solar plants will be set up in Mombasa and Athi River locations in Kenya and will have capacities of the of 14.5MW and 5MW, respectively. MOMNAI Energy will finance the construction, management, and maintenance costs of the entire project. Bamburi Cement will provide land leases at its Mombasa and Nairobi plant sites for the Solar PV Plants.
The project is expected to contribute up to 30% of Bamburi Cement’s total power supply, making it Kenya’s largest commercial solar project initiated by a cement company. CEO Mohit Kapoor highlighted the project’s significance in achieving significant cost savings, reducing vulnerability to load shedding, and making a substantial contribution towards achieving Net Zero carbon emissions.