Kitui power station

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Kitui power station is a cancelled power station in Kitui County, Coast, Kenya.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Kitui power station Kitui County, Coast, Kenya -1.483333, 38.383333 (approximate)

The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.

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Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year Retired year
Unit 1 cancelled coal - lignite 960 unknown

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner
Unit 1 to be determined [100.0%]

Project-level coal details

  • Coal source(s): Kitui

Background

In 2010, the Kenyan government awarded a mining concession to the Chinese company Jung‘u and its subsidiary Fenxi Mining Industry Ltd to mine coal in the Mui Basin.[1] A benefit sharing agreement was signed between Fenxi and the government in Mwingi town on December 23, 2013. A Chinese consortium was also given mining rights in 2015.[2]

In October 2014, it was reported that the ministry of energy was evaluating bids from international power producers to build a 960MW coal-fired power plant in Kitui, under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) framework. The plant would use coal from Kitui, with operation planned for 2016.[3]

As of December 2017, mining had yet to begin in the region.[4] There had also been no developments on the coal plant, although a March 2018 article stated "One of the [Kenya] National Energy and Petroleum Policy’s long-term goals is to facilitate development of a 960-megawatt coal-fired plant within Mui Basin — in Kitui."[5]

In July 2018, it was reported that feasibility studies on the 960 MW coal plant were underway.[6]

Residents petitioned Parliament to have the coal mining and plant project stopped.[7]

In September 2020, The Star Kenya reported that coal mining had not proceeded in the Mui Basin region due to widespread public opposition.[8] However, in November 2020, others noted there were several indications that plans for coal mining industry development in Mui Basin, Kitui, were moving forward.[9]

According to August 2021 reporting, the government revealed during a recent budget reading that there were plans to drill 20 more coal exploration wells.[10] An extensive 2019-2021 State of Environment Report states: "Coal consumption is expected to increase with the discovery and mining of coal deposits in Mui Basin in Kitui County and other parts of the country".[11]

In November 2022, President William Ruto reportedly announced that the coal mining project in Kitui would be revived.[12] With no apparent developments relating specifically to the power plant, it appeared to be cancelled.

Public opposition

According to a 2015 report, 2021 report, and other sources, the coal mining would lead to large-scale evictions of at least 100,000 people. Locals filed a petition against the project, resulting in a 2015 ruling providing for greater public participation in consultation on all matters, including compensation.[1][10]

Articles and Resources

References

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.