^{Energy Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Charles Keter accompanied by Majority Leader in Parliament Hon. Adan Duale and REREC Chairman Prof. Simon Gicharu during a recent visit of the 50MW Garissa solar Power Project.}

Scope of works

This included the following:

• Construction of a 132KV bay at 132/33/11KV Ketraco Substation linking to the 132KV Bus bars.
• Construction of 5.7 km of 132KV transmission line with 16No. pylons (Towers) from the Solar Plant to Ketraco Substation.
• Established a 33/132 KV substation at the Solar Plant with a 50 MVA 33/132KV step up transformer
• Established a 50 MVA (Installed capacity is 54.65MW) solar generation plant generation complete, with Solar panels, step up transformers -33no x 0.415/33kV transformers , indoor 33kV switch room and control room for monitoring, including CCTV installations for monitoring.

Project Capacity

The project involves implementation of a 50MW grid based solar power generation plant whereby all the generated power is sold to Kenya Power through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). To support the project, a 6 Kilometre 132 Kilo Vault (KV) power transmission line has been constructed between the REREC solar power plant and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) sub-station in Garissa to feed the power into the national power grid.

Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives

Various REREC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities have been implemented to benefit communities living around the project for purposes of enhancing community ownership of the project through provision of health, education and security services. These initiatives include:

• Drilling of borehole with storage tank and piping
• Construction and equipping of a dispensary,
• Construction and equipping of a primary school,
• Construction of a 3km access road to the community farm
• Refurbishment of the local police post
• Face lifting chief’s camp to enhance security in the area.