Kenya Power is working with the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (Kirdi) on the possibility of coming up with a battery manufacturing plant, as the electricity distributor seeks to position itself as a major player in adoption of electric vehicles. While Kenya Power chief executive Joseph Siror says they do not seek to crowd out the private sector in this space, he noted that the role of the company will be more of a facilitator.
However, if need arises where they can provide infrastructure such as charging ports, they will step in. Speaking during the third Annual E-Mobility Stakeholders Forum and Expo in Nairobi, Eng Siror said Kenya Power has procured 45 electric vehicle (EV) chargers that are being deployed in selected towns - Nairobi, Nyeri, Kisumu, Nakuru, Mombasa and Voi. "These include six chargers that we will install at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)," he said. "These EV chargers equipped with fast charging technology are designed to serve both our fleet and the growing number of private EV users." Kenya Power has three electric charging stations at their Stima Plaza offices in Nairobi.
The charging is currently being offered for free. Eng Siror said establishing battery manufacturing capacity locally will not only reduce the cost of EVs but also create jobs and position Kenya as a hub for e-mobility innovation. "This (Kenya Power and Kirdi) initiative aligns with the government's agenda and our commitment to building a self reliant e-mobility ecosystem," he said. He however insisted that Kenya Power does not seek to overshadow the private sector who might be interested in investing in the space.
He said it is better if the private sector can put all the infrastructure they need without additional intervention. "If the said private sector has all the infrastructure but no power supply, then Kenya Power will step in," he noted. "But there may be occasions where the private sector or participant may want to use EV vehicles but there is no infrastructure, then we can support by providing (the infrastructure)." Kenya Power Board Chair Joy Masinde Mdivo said they are cognisant of the economic opportunities in e-mobility, even as she noted that there is still room to develop further some of the EVs to be fit for purpose to the needs of the Kenyan market. "We are here not only to oversee the operations of Kenya Power but also to unlock new markets like transport electrification.
