UK aims to drive renewable energy investment in Kenya
皇冠体育app British High Commission holds event to spur investment by British firms in Kenyan renewable energy sector.
British High Commissioner to Kenya, Nic Hailey
皇冠体育app British High Commission, in conjunction with Barclays Bank of Kenya, yesterday held an event in Nairobi bringing together leading players in the local renewable energy sector with investors from the United Kingdom.
皇冠体育app UK-Kenya Renewable Energy Conference (REC 100) aimed to secure investment into Kenya鈥檚 growing renewable energy sector, building a strong pipeline of deals to accelerate the nation鈥檚 pace of affordable electrification.
皇冠体育app Conference brought together 100 representatives from Kenyan and British firms across a range of low carbon solutions. Speakers included Energy & Petroleum Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge, British High Commissioner to Kenya Nic Hailey, CEO of Barclays Kenya Jeremy Awori, and Lord Clive Hollick the UK Prime Minister鈥檚 Trade Envoy to Kenya & Tanzania.
皇冠体育app collaboration between the UK and Kenyan renewable energy sectors is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments in May of 2016, which saw the UK commit Ksh 70 billion to support the development of strategic renewable energy projects in Kenya. 皇冠体育app MoU also promotes opportunities for private sector trade and investment by the UK in Kenya鈥檚 renewable energy sector.
Speaking at the Conference, the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Nic Hailey said:
皇冠体育app UK and Kenya are at the vanguard of renewable energy, clean technology and innovation. Kenya has one of the most active renewable energy sectors in Africa, and the UK is a global leader in many of the sectors for which Kenya has greatest demand.
We are excited by this growing UK-Kenya partnership in renewables, working together to bring clean, sustainable energy to the Kenyan people and accelerate Kenya鈥檚 development and economic growth鈥�.
Barclay鈥檚 Bank of Kenya CEO Jeremy Awori said:
Our expertise in investment financing and knowledge of the energy sector and its technologies position us to take advantage of falling renewable energy costs by partnering with the right investors to help Kenya achieve the government鈥檚 5000MW plan by 2017.
Kenya鈥檚 energy sector has experienced strong growth over the past decade with the country bringing on line 576MW of new base load capacity since 2013. This increased energy production has coincided with higher grid connectivity, improving Kenya鈥檚 grid electricity access rate from 27% in 2012 to 55 % in 2016.
Despite this, the country still has a low electrification rate by development standards, meaning that more power projects must be developed in order to meet demand, achieve the government of Kenya鈥檚 targets and deliver accessible pricing.