The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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North Eastern region are set to benefit from more reliable and stable electricity following the successful upgrade of the Garissa 132/11kV substation by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
The project, which involved increasing the capacity of the 132/11kV transformer from 7.5MVA to 23MVA, effectively triples the substation’s ability to meet the county’s growing electricity demand.
The progress was inspected by Energy Principal Secretary Alex Kamau Wachira during a visit to the Garissa substation, where he reviewed the completed works ahead of the commissioning of the upgraded transformer.
Commissioned in 2016, the Garissa Substation marked a major milestone in the region’s electricity supply by connecting Garissa to the national grid through the 132kV Mwingi-Garissa transmission line.
The project ended the county’s dependence on expensive diesel-generated power and significantly improved electricity access.
Since then, electricity demand has continued to grow, particularly on the 132/11kV transformer, whose load has steadily approached its maximum rated capacity.
To address the increasing demand, KETRACO replaced the existing 7.5MVA transformer with a new 23MVA unit while maintaining the same 132/11kV voltage ratio. The upgrade provides enough capacity to support current electricity needs while accommodating future growth across the Garissa supply area.
According to KETRACO, the new transformer was procured earlier this year and successfully installed, commissioned, and tested by the company’s engineers. The upgraded transformer is expected to be energized on Sunday, June 28.
The increased substation capacity will also pave the way for the electrification of Dadaab through a 33kV feeder, bringing Dadaab and other underserved communities onto the national grid.
KETRACO says the investment will stimulate economic growth, improve livelihoods, and expand access to reliable electricity across North Eastern Kenya, while supporting the government’s broader objective of extending the national power grid to every part of the country.
