Sh34 billion Dandora waste recycling plant will add 70 megawatts of electricity

NAIROBI, KENYA:  President Uhuru Kenyatta has welcomed a proposal by a German company to build a solid waste recycling plant in Nairobi.

President Kenyatta said the Government encouraged the private sector participation in boosting the country’s electricity generation.

The President spoke at State House, Nairobi, during a meeting with German investors led by Sustainable Energy Management Company Managing Partner, Mr Frank Masuhr.

Mr Masuhr disclosed that his company intends to set up a 400 million dollar plant at Dandora dumpsite which will create 1000 jobs directly and indirectly.

He said the project will absorb 2000 tonnes of waste daily which would in turn be converted into 70 megawatts of power to the national grid.

President Kenyatta appreciated to the German investor’s show of confidence in the country’s policies and programmes and urged more investors to follow suit.

He asked Government officials to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy, saying it undermined economic growth.

The President called on the Government officials present including Cabinet Secretaries Charity Ngilu of Lands, Davis Chirchir of Energy and Ambassador Amina Mohammed of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to ensure the Government’s agenda of wooing more investors is not bogged down by avoidable procedures.

“We have to ensure that we do away with unnecessary bureaucracy. It does not benefit anybody,” President Kenyatta said.

Another energy project being undertaken by the German investors include the funding of Geothermal Energy Exploration at Bogoria-Silale.

The Project which is being funded at a cost of 80 million Euros is aimed at laying down the necessary infrastructure to support exploration and generation of geothermal power that will contribute an additional 200 megawatts to the national grid.

This will support the Government’s initiative of producing 5000 megawatts to the national grid.

The Director of German government-owned development bank, KFW Mr. Haje Schutte said the project will be expedited to ensure private sector partners with the Government in producing more energy.

Lands Minister Charity Ngilu promised to accelerate issuance of the title deed to the Dandora project investors to commence work.

Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero said his County Government supports the project and has fast-tracked licensing to ensure it takes off without further delay.