Indian engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T), in collaboration with Grid Solution SAS, has been awarded a significant contract to construct a new Sh12.26 billion (approximately 793 crore INR) national electricity dispatch hub in Kenya. The project will be overseen by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco).
The upcoming National System Control Centre (NSCC) will be built in Embakasi, replacing the current center located on Nairobi’s Juja Road, which was previously managed by Kenya Power until January 2022. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) stripped Kenya Power of its role, and the new NSCC aims to ensure grid stability and provide consumers with affordable power by regulating electricity flow from various producers across the national grid.
L&T’s participation in this project marks another milestone in its global portfolio of infrastructure developments, particularly in Africa. The NSCC facility will take 36 months to complete, and L&T will play a crucial role in ensuring that the project adheres to global engineering and safety standards.
Additionally, a backup center will be constructed to provide an alternative dispatch point, ensuring continuity in operations in the event of a failure in the main national control center. The exact location of the backup facility is yet to be disclosed, though Narok was earlier considered a potential site.
The financing of the project is being jointly handled by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Ministry of Finance.
The NSCC will support the management of power demand and supply, which is crucial for maintaining the stability of the country’s electric power system, aligning with Kenya’s ongoing efforts to modernize its electricity infrastructure.
