Energy is key to any development of any given country. Without a stable energy sector, a country cannot move forward. The energy sector, therefore, is the backbone of the economic enhancement of a nation.
Amu Power Company is the company that has been awarded the tender to build and operate a 981.5 MW coal-powered electricity generation plant in Lamu. Amu Power Company was awarded this tender by the Government of Kenya in the month of September 2014.
Amu Power Company is owned by two companies: Gulf Energy Limited (lead developer as well as sponsor) and Centum Investment Company (Co-sponsor). The fact that Amu Power Company is owned by these two Kenyan Companies is an enough vote of confidence in the competence and capacity of reputable local companies to lead, fund as well as to own the development of large infrastructure projects within the country in partnership with the experienced world class companies. This will also give local individuals as well as corporate investors an opportunity to participate in this important power project through Capital Markets.
Amu Power Company has been tasked with building and operating a coal-fired thermal electricity-generating plant in the Manda Bay area of Lamu County in this country. The coal-fired thermal electricity-generating plant will be built on a Built-Own-Operate (BOO) model. This implies that Amu Power Company will built, own as well as operate the power plant for a period of 25 years from commissioning. This is an investment that is worth about two billion US dollars or simply 180 billion shillings.
This power plant is just what Kenyans want at the moment for adequate power generation. This project is part of the Government of Kenya’s plan of producing 5000 MW of electrical power. This will be a huge contribution to the national grid.
Amu Power Company, a company that has a vision to anchor long term national economic growth as aspirations by provisions of reliable, safe as well as affordable power, operates within the strict conformity with the local laws and regulations.
Amu Power Company is a Kenyan company. This implies that the company knows Kenya very well. It has the interests of Kenyans at heart. It cannot not, therefore, put the precious lives of Kenyans at risk for the sake of making profits. The benefits of this plant are undisputable. Despite this fact, many issues have been raised especially concerning the environment, the space in terms of land as well as the danger the plant might pose on the Lamu World Heritage site. These are just concerns but there is nothing to worry because everything has been put into consideration.