Tatu City, the 5,000-acre mixed-use Special Economic Zone (SEZ), is in dialogue with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to ensure power tariffs are streamlined for all power users. Tatu City Power Company SEZ Limited, the power company at Tatu City, supplies more than 75 businesses, 4,000 residents and 4,500 students within the new city on Nairobi’s doorstep.
Inaugurated by Principal Secretary, Hon Alex Wachira during a recent visit to Tatu City, covered current and proposed thresholds for metering voltages and tariffs for SEZs in Kenya, following the gazettement of SEZ tariffs. The SEZ-specific energy tariffs currently apply to SEZs connected and metered at 220kV and 132kV. A proposal was given to EPRA, the energy sector regulator, to accelerate the promulgation of the various draft energy regulations.
Tatu City has invested more than KES 40 billion in infrastructure, including a 135MVA-66/11kV substation, solar photovoltaic power plants for renewable energy generation, 31km of medium voltage lines, 50km of underground low voltage and medium voltage network, distribution transformers and modern street lighting solutions. Their power uptime is currently above 99%, a result of the activation of the city’s 66/11kV 135MVA substation, which is an unprecedented private investment in East Africa.
Aligned with sustainability goals, the Ministry of Energy is steering the country toward using 100% renewable energy by 2030. This effort resonates with the environmental and sustainability goals of businesses in Kenya and globally.