Contents News.........................................................03 Cover Story ..................................................35 Feature...............................................39 Readers Contribution ....................................51 ESA ..............................................................61 IEK ...............................................................62
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KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
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A Definitive Publication of Engineers in East Africa & Beyond, since 1972
Editor’s Note SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013
Editorial Committee: A A McCorkindale – Chairman F W Ngokonyo - Vice-Chairman N O Booker J N Kariuki Prof M Kashorda Allan Muhalia A W Otsieno S K Kibe M Majiwa J Mutilili Editorial Assistants: Peninah Njakwe Daisy Gakuu Kevin Achola Editors: Articulate Edits Design & Layout: Daniel Wakaba Ndung’u Sales & Marketing: Joyce Ndamaiyu Phylis Muthoni Teresa Atieno Oliver Elman
Published by:
Much has been said in countless forums on how Engineers will play a major role in Kenya achieving her development goals as specified under the Vision 2030. A key aspect of Engineers’ contribution is the design, development and maintenance of the required infrastructure to sustain the country’s growth as envisaged in the vision. The September-October Issue of the Kenya Engineer magazine focuses on Infrastructure. The Government has shown commitment to achieve the set development goals for the country’s infrastructure. An analysis of the 2013/14 budget shows efforts to sustain the growth by completing the ongoing projects and kick-starting the planned ones. There are elaborate plans that have been put in place to revamp the Kenya Railway system. Read about the Standard Railway Gauge (SRG) network that will Link Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. This 2737KM and USD 13.5 Billion railway network upon completion will carry approximately 28 million Metric tonnes of cargo annually. Still on infrastructure, the month of August was a low one for Kenya with an inferno consuming and destroying JKIA’s International arrivals section at Terminal one. This is a big set back to the country’s infrastructure development. Search for geothermal energy in Kenya is on course. To attain Vision 2030, the government’s forecast is to generate 15,000 MW of which 5000MW will come from geothermal. The Longonot Geothermal Power project is part of the efforts in place for the country to exploit her potential in Geothermal energy. We have also sampled some of the contributions we received from our readers plus a collection of engineering news over the past two months. In a quest to give our readers more content, this issue has an additional four pages of content and so shall be all the upcoming ones.
I sure trust you will have a pleasant read!! For any feedback feel free to contact us. A A McCorkindale – Chairman Editorial Committee Next issue will be out by 1st November, 2013
P O Box 45754-00100 Nairobi Tel: 4443649/50/72, Cell: 0719 207 712 Fax: 4443650 Email: info@kenyaengineer.co.ke/ newsdesk@kenyaengineer.co.ke
Correspondence should be addressed to the Institution. Kenya Engineer is published every two months. Views expressed in this Journal are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Institution.
©Copyright: Reproduction of any article in part or in full is strictly prohibited without written permission from the Institution of Engineers of Kenya.
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
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NEWS
• US Head of State, Barrack Obama during the recent Africa tour
Kenya’s share in the Obama’s Power Africa project
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enya is one of the beneficiaries of the Power Africa project launched by President Barrack Obama of the United States in mid this year. The $7 billion project aimed at bringing 10,000MW of electricity to sub-Saharan Africa will see to Kenya adding 400 mega watts of energy. Aldwych International, a Dutch-backed company will spearhead the 400MW power
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e nya i s s e t t o b e n e f i t f r o m a n additional 5,000MW in the national grid if the national power generator has its way in the next four years. The project by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is aimed at ensuring the country has enough electricity supply to encourage the growth of industries at the counties. KenGen currently produces 1 7 1 2 M W, wh i ch r e s u l t s i n a h u g e deficit compared to the amount required to spur growth in the counties. Mr. Ngure the acting MD of KenGen said the company is exploring ways of boosting power generation in geothermal plants and rehabilitating existing hydro electric plants. He was speaking during the handing over of a power unit at Kindaruma power station by project contractors to KenGen. The upgrade and refurbishment will see the total generation capacity increase to 72MW up from 40MW at Kindaruma.
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project in Kenya with plans to set up a wind energy plant under the three year $2million power “Off-Grid Energy Challenge”. Speaking to Kenya Engineer, an engineer with the Kenya Power-Kenya’s sole power distributor-who sought anonymity pointed that 400MW of power is not small by Kenyan standards where the peak demand is 1300MW.He noted that though
the amount was minimal, it would count. Aldwych International is not new in the country having set up a 80-90MW power project in Rabai, Mombasa which was synchronized to the grid in 2009. The firm is also part of the consortium undertaking the country’s biggest wind power project which also happens to be the largest single private investment in Kenya’s history, the Lake Turkana Wind Project. The LTWP wind farm covering 40,000 acres in Loyangalani District in northeastern Kenya will see to 300MW power added into the national grid. The project is ongoing while Kenya Transmission Company (Ketraco) is on a mission to construct a double circuit 400kV, 428km transmission line to deliver the LTWP electricity along with power from other future plants to the national grid. Among other firms intended to join the Power Africa project include Heirs Holdings, investment vehicle of Nigerian tycoon Tony Elumelu, having pledged $2.5 billion; General Electric who already have activities running in the country and have partnered to co-fund the project; and Symbion Power who recently completed a 55 mw dieselpowered electricity project in Tanzania.
KenGen embarks on an ambitious programme to boost power education
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
• Turkwel Dam
NEWS
is implemented, it would encourage competition, improve efficiency, and reduce the high cost of power thereby attracting investors into the country. Consistent power outages have led to many consumers losing confidence in the power distributor. To add to that, the MPs pointed the parastatals’ inefficiency saying that it had only managed to connect a small per cent of Kenyan’s to the grid with 85 per cent still unconnected after 50 years in operation. The country had this year experienced a national power outage which raised the already built inconfidence with the company.
The Legislature seeks to end monopoly of power distributor
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enya Power’s rein as the sole power distributor in the country is at the risk of coming to an end if the Members of Parliament (MPs)vote to liberalize the distribution of power in the country.
The discussion came about after a motion brought forth by a member of the Energy, Communication and Information committee, David Bowen who argued that if the move
As the East Africa’s largest economy, the country’s power levels are considered low despite great potential in power resources. This is however owed to slow exploitation of available renewable power sources.
Africa’s 1st geothermal power plant risks being obsolete
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enya’s largest power producer, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) in mid this year called for a detailed feasibility study for the Olkaria I geothermal power plant following a long time in operation that has deteriorated the plant’s condition. The plant which produces 45 mega watts of power was the first geothermal power plant in Africa. Located in the Rift Valley, the plant was commissioned in three phases and has three units each generating 15MW of electricity. The first unit was commissioned in June 1981, the second unit in November 1982 and the third unit in March 1985.
after over 32 years of operation. The technology which was the basis for design has also been overtaken by the latest user friendly and efficient technologies. “In addition, most equipment of the plant is no longer in production thus making acquisition of spare parts difficult”, said KenGen in a statement. The company thus called upon interested consulting firms to tender for carrying out a detailed study to determine the plant’s current condition and advice on whether to rehabilitate, upgrade or retire the power plant and construct a new one.
Th e p o w e r p l a n t h a s h o w e v e r experienced normal wear and tear
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NEWS
Energy regulatory body launches an online portal sector is a lack of clear, up-to-date information about how to obtain the various licenses and clearances required to construct and operate an energy project. The portal is thus aimed at encouraging investment in the rosy energy sector by ensuring that licensing procedures are efficient and that information regarding licensing is accessible and easy to understand.
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n times when most operations are going digital, Kenya’s energy sector is not left behind. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in July this year launched an energy portal in a move to improve the dissemination of regulatory information on licensing
and requirements for renewable energy projects in the country. According to a statement by ERC on the online portal, one of the challenges in developing investments in renewable energy
“The purpose of the portal is to provide easy access to relevant information about administrative entry requirements and procedures for operating a power plant based on renewable energy, as well as the legal and regulatory framework for such investments (e.g., tariff regulation) and relevant market information�, says a statement on the online portal. The portal will provide information regarding each of the clearances issued by government agencies and local authorities required to start a renewable energy project as well as information on agencies that provide associated information on renewable energy projects.
KeNHA issues guidelines for weighbridges
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here has been constant complains of congestion at the weighbridges that have seen trailers block traffic flow along the busy highways. In a move to curb this, the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) has issued guidelines to facilitate cargo movement on the Northern Corridor, Mombasa-Malaba road.
lastly, an allowance of 5 percent has been granted on the legal Axle and Axle Group Weights Limits to take care of possible movement of cargo while on transit. The Kenyan cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Eng.S.Kamau had
The statement released by KeNHA indicates: Custom sealed containerized transit cargo to be weighed at the first weighbridge encountered after leaving the port/point of loading and at the last weighbridge at point of exit from the border, Vehicles established to be overloaded on the Axle but are within the prescribed Gross Vehicle Weights as per the Axle configurations shall be allowed to redistribute its cargo to within tolerance before being re-weighed and allowed to proceed without being charged. However, any vehicle which is overloaded on the Axle and Axle Group and cannot redistribute its cargo to within allowable tolerance shall be charged, and
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KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
earlier pointed his concern in regard to the weighbridges and pointed that the weighbridges were a major contributor to port inefficiency. The government has however promised to modernize the weighbridges to fasten the process.
Kenya airport’s parking bay to be ready soon
• An Artistic impression of JKIA
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enya’s busiest airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will have a new parking bay ready in a month’s time allowing it to accommodate 1,900 vehicles. According to the MD, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Stephine Gachuki, the main structure is complete and was only awaiting relevant equipment involving security, air-conditioning and baggage systems.
In recent times, the airport has seen increased activity that often exceeds it’s. There is however a plan in progress to expand the airport. This will double the current size of JKIA from 25,662m² to 55,222m² with the new Terminal 4 building. Under the Vision 2030, the Kenyan government also plans to set up a second runway at the airport.
Currently there is only one runway (06/24) which is 4,117m (13,507ft) paved in asphalt and Instrument Landing System equipped. The runway is sufficient to accommodate over 80,000 landings and take-offs a year but at the moment the number is only 60,000. The airport was first opened in 1958 and had been designed for a maximum capacity of 2.5 million passengers a year. In 2006 the airport handled in excess of 4.4 million passengers. According to the Vision 2030; works of a new terminal 4 are currently underway and were scheduled for completion in August this year. Plans to expand and improve JKIA started in December 2005 by Kenyan Airport Authority (KAA) with the intention of making it a premier regional hub in East Africa and prolong its usefulness until at least 2024.
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NEWS
Benefits of outsourcing your CAD workload
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omputer Aided Design (CAD) has become a standard addition to design companies. The process allows you to create or modify blueprints accurately and efficiently. As CAD technology continues to evolve, computing devices and design tools have also become more complex to handle. You need a great deal of training and skills to produce favourable results with these advanced technologies. Fortunately, you can rely on outsourcing companies to conduct projects for different tasks like AUTO CAD and layout creation. Outsource companies offer many benefits than you can imagine, as they help you cope with the changing demands of the market. Quality and Professional Services You can expect top-notch results when you hire CAD outsourcing companies. These companies work on professional levels, making sure they meet your demands efficiently. These companies also have highly trained experts who can assist with any of your design needs. As these experts possess adequate experience and knowledge on the CAD technology, they can help produce quality layouts and models you can use for your business. They can also offer advice on design processes and product
development for increased productivity and smoother business operations.
and updated systems to shift traditional processes to more convenient methods.
Reduced business costs Hiring outsourcing companies for your projects can help minimize operating costs. Some companies can even offer flexible packages that can match your business requirements and goals. With their assistance, you do not need to spend a significant amount on developing prototypes. You also do not need to pay for additional training, as they can handle everything related to CAD. Their assistance also helps minimize errors, which can also cause consequences and setbacks on your business. With outsourcing companies, you can also identify and eliminate inefficiencies in design processes.
Tips on Choosing a CAD Outsource Company Look for qualifications. Make sure the company you choose has a good track record. Look at past projects and find out if they handled work similar to yours. Search online to get referrals—read reviews from former clients and go over their portfolio. Check for certifications and licenses to see if they are qualified to conduct CAD outsource projects. Make sure the company also has the labour and resources to handle your layout requirements. You should also find out how they conduct work and develop contingency plans—the outsource company should be able to handle significant amounts of workloads without giving in to pressure. Outsourcing your CAD requirements d o e s n o t m e a n yo u l e ave t h e t a s k s o l e l y o n t h e c o m p a n y. R e s u l t s require constant communication and professional client-vendor relationship. As such, choose an outsource company y o u c a n w o r k w i t h c o m f o r t a b l y.
Access to latest technologies Getting your CAD outsourced also gives you access to the latest developments in the field. Outsource companies can offer a range of models and tools that can develop robust layouts for your business. They can even help support downstream process and implement 3D CAD changes for efficient product developments. Some companies even offer advanced software
Credits: Basepoint Kenya
• A CAD 3D model
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
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FEATURE
||| The
Kenyan National Budget for FY 2013/2014 and its bearing on engineering |||
by George Omondi
Budgetary allocation for selected Kenyan ministries in include Tra n s p o r t s e c t o r g e t s K s h . 1 2 5 billion, Ksh.84.86 billion for the Ministry of Devolution and Planning, Ksh.78.5 billion for energy , Ksh.9.5 billion for ICT while Ksh.9.5 billion and Ksh.130 billion will be channeled to education and technology respectively. More positively, Kenyan President U h u r u K e n y a t t a ’s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n allocated Ksh. 8billIion under the agriculture budget for irrigation and Ksh.2 billion set aside for agribusiness. Prioritizing energy The three major sources of electricity generation in Kenya are hydropower, diesel thermal and geothermal plants. According to the budget estimates, Kenya intends to invest in geothermal sources at Olkaria Wellheads, fossil-fuel development, hydropower development, promotion o f r u ra l e l e c t r i f i c a t i o n , r e n e wa b l e energy, and energy sector regulation.
• National Treasury Cabinet Sec. Henry Rotich
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n Thursday 13th June 2013, the Kenyan Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, presented the rulling coalition maiden budget since taking office earlier this year. The theme for this year’s budget was “transformation for shared prosperity” under pinned on a growth prospect of 5.8% for the financial year 2013/2014. The 1.6 trillion budget continues to focus on restoring fiscal discipline while shifting a greater proportion into infrastructure development. The Government of Kenya tried to balance a range of competing objectives, under difficult economic conditions.
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Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary had less room to maneuver given that close to 60% of the budget will go towards recurrent expenditure. This is due to the enlarged government with the adoption of the devolved system that needs funding for 47 counties. This means that the government, unfortunately, will spend more than half of its tax revenue on public workers. The mushrooming wage-bill creates little fiscal space for development expenditure. The proposed VAT bill is also set to increase the cost of basic commodities. The controversial bill will in turn see increases in the prices of fuel, kerosene, diesel and other essential imported goods.
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
Biogas energy is quickly gaining prominence as an alternative source of renewable energy for both cooking and electricity generation, especially in the rural areas. The residue arising from this process is used as fertilizer. In order to encourage usage of this renewable energy Mr. Rotich has proposed for exemption of duty for plastic bag biogas digesters. The Kenyan Government set aside a mammoth Ksh.78.5 billion for its Energy and Petroleum Ministry with the aim of increasing electricity generation and exploration of oil deposits. Ksh.76.4 billion of the Ksh.78.5 billion allocated will however go towards electricity generation and increasing the ratio of people connected to Kenya’s power grid. Ksh.1 billion will be used in Kenya for oil exploration and research on areas with potential oil deposits. The money will be used to come up with data on unlicensed blocks in order to attract investment in exploration.
FEATURE
Some prospecting firms in Kenya have found commercially viable oil deposits like Tullow Oil plc in Turkana County Clean energy has a fair share of the Kenyan budget with Ksh.492 million being allocated to related projects. This is a deliberate effort by the Kenyan government to improve its energy sector. About 60% of Kenya’s power capacity is directly sourced from hydro-electricity dams. The heavy reliance on hydroelectricity production has made Kenya vulnerable to climate change. Climatic variability has in turn led to unreliable and high prices of electricity that have been attributed to the slow pace of growth in the manufacturing sector. Kenya’s demand for energy has rapidly been growing by about eight percent per annum. Kenya power is currently serving more than two million people and it has an ambitious plan to increase the number to about 20 million by the year 2020. Close to 77% of Kenyans still lack access to modern energy services which impedes development in the end. Engineering-led industry contributes close to half of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP), and is the ‘goose that lays the golden eggs’ for the economy. Geothermal energy is likely to ease the strain on Kenya’s budget with respect to the huge sum spent annually on hydropower. The ability to research, develop and apply new technologies is essential, particularly in today’s energy-driven world. Concentrating
on geothermal energy will provide long-term stimulation both to the economy and the engineering industry, and actually provide a solid basis for future sustainable growth. The Infrastructure budget The Kenyan plan to encourage much-needed infrastructural development as shown in the budget and job creation is a desirable effort in the right direction; In addition, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to double the amount of tarmac roads as well as completing the construction of a port in Lamu. Moreover, the government of Kenya is also set to continue with the collaborative infrastructure investment in the region with the EAC (East African Community) members by expanding road networks linking the member states to create opportunities for businesses to expand trade across the region. The African Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) are financing a number of projects in infrastructure with regional dimension. Win for the rail sector The government of Kenya has set a proposal to exempt import duty on importations of items used to facilitate railway operations in order to support the expansion and development of the railway network in the region. Mr. Rotich proposed tax measures aimed at facilitating development of infrastructure facilities such as railway and energy in a bid to enhance competitiveness
and stimulate higher growth by reducing the cost of transport and energy thereby m a k i n g t h e e c o n o my c o m p e t i t ive . He further proposed for amendment the Customs and Excise Act to introduce a Railway Development Levy of 1.5 % on all imported goods. This in the end is expected to mobilize an additional Ksh. 15 billion to fund the construction of a standard gauge railway line linking Mombasa and Kisumu. The three-year project will reduce significantly the cost of freight, thereby saving businesses huge resources. “Rail transport is the most economical mode of transportation for both freight and passenger. However, the railway facilities have not received much incentives compared to other transportation infrastructure like roads. With this in mind, I propose to exempt import duty on importations of items used to facilitate railway operations in order to support the expansion and development of the railway network in the region”, said Mr. Rotich. Meanwhile, the government of Kenya is holding bilateral financing negotiations with the Chinese government to build a high-speed standard gauge railway line linking Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. The countries have agreed to jointly finance the Ksh. 1.2 trillion project. Road agencies Kenyan roads agencies were shortchanged in the 2013/2014 budget and are likely to face a funding crisis. Funds meant for the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) were devolved to the counties. To counter this, the Treasury of Kenya PS Kamau Thugge plans to recall more than Ksh. 35 billion from county coffers in order to fund agencies in the roads and energy sectors that were overlooked in the budget. “The committee has agreed that funds meant for Kenya Rural Roads Authority and Kenya Urban Roads Authority should be returned to the national government for the two authorities to complete ongoing projects on behalf of counties”, says Dr. Thugge.
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NEWS
Funding for planned projects by the Kenyan government •
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The government of Kenya has also made plans to mobilize Ksh 15 billion to fund construction of a standard gauge railway line from Mombasa to Kisumu which will be completed in three years’ time. Ksh 97.9 billion has been set aside for continued road expansion, upgrading and rehabilitation throughout the country in order to improve the conditions of road network. Ksh 22 billion to commence the construction of a two-track standard gauge railway line from Mombasa to Kisumu to improve turn-round time and reduce significantly the cost of freight from Mombasa to Kisumu, by as much as 79 percent from about Ksh.140,000 to Ksh.30,00 Ksh 78.5 billion for scaling up investment in reliable and affordable energy, of which Ksh 12.5 billion will be for geothermal development and Ksh 23.8 billion for enhancing power transmission Ksh 3.7 billion for construction of the first three berths and associated infrastructure of the Lamu port under the LAPSSET project.
Comparison of 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 budgets of Kenya The 2013-2014 budget that is at Ksh 1.6 Trillion is higher compared to last year’s (2012-2013) which was at Sh. 1.45 trillion. This financial year has seen an increase in the budget allocations for various sectors particularly in infrastructure.
The budget has prioritized roads because they are prime communication links between economic sectors and the population. Roads currently account for over 80% of Kenya’s total passenger and freight transportation, as well as value of output. An overall budget of 130 billion was allocated to transport and infrastructure this year, up from Ksh. 100.9 billion in the previous year. Energy growth has been directly linked to well-being and prosperity in the country. The government of Kenya’s goal is to meet the growing demand for energy in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. In keeping with the pace of energy demand, the Ministry requires unprecedented levels of investment combined with the pursuit of all economic energy sources. In view of this, Kenya’s Ministry of Energy was allocated Ksh.78.5 billion, up from Ksh.65.7 billion in 2012/2013 financial year. Engineering outlook: Looking into the crystal ball. According to Kenya’s Devolution and Planning Ministry, the transport and communication sector recorded a growth of 4% compared to 5.8% in 2011. Other top concerns included the inability of engineering firms to secure financing, pressure to reduce fees, and increasing competition. The market outlook rates power and energy as the lucrative market in 2013 followed closely behind by highways and bridges. Going forward, there is a significantly growing trend for rail/ transit work nationwide due to the recent developmental efforts by the government
to improve the sector. Subsequently, rail/ transit engineers are in more demand, and will likely see their revenues reflect the developing demand for their expertise. Although there is a reason to make merry, there is still an acute shortage of engineers in Kenya. “The challenge is that we are f a c i n g s h o r t a g e o f e n g i n e e r s . Th e market is not providing enough, when we advertise for engineering jobs, we rarely get the number we require,” says Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) Managing Director, Joel Kiilu. According to the Kenya Engineers Registration Board, there are 1323 registered engineers. Another 5000 engineers are graduates .This means that 6323 engineers are serving 40 million people. It remains vital to increase this number if we are to achieve middle-level income status. In Conclusion Comparing the current budgetary estimates in Kenya with the 2012/2013 FY Budget, investment in infrastructure, particularly in road, energy and railway has been boosted. The government of Kenya will spend 54 per cent, or a massive Sh140 billion, of the development budget on infrastructure. Steps have been taken in the rehabilitation and expansion of existing roads as well as maintenance with the aim of having better road networks. The government of Kenya will be under intense pressure to deliver on its promises. While Mr. Rotich has achieved a reasonable balance, the budget tends to lack an over-riding and inspiring focus, partly constrained by a lack of significant growth in the tax base. The implementation of the new Constitution in Kenya has had implications on her budget process. The administration in Kenya should design a financial framework that puts emphasis on capital expenditure while cutting down on recurrent expenditure. In as much as Kenya still is at the embryonic stage of Vision 2030, if the last decade is anything to go by, engineers now have the time and foundation to make breakthroughs and be pioneers in their own right.
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NEWS
Kenya Launches National Broadband Strategy
• A broadcasting satellite
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enya became the second country in Africa after South Africa to launch an elaborate broadband strategy following the breakfast launch of the National Broadband Strategy (NBS) by the Government on 23rd July this year. The NBS is aimed at transforming Kenya into a knowledge-based economy.
by increasing budgetary allocations from 0.5% to over 5% in the coming years.
Kenya’s ICT industry key players and other stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the strategy were present. By and large, the objective of this strategy is to provide quality broadband services to all citizens in the country.
‘‘We hope to deepen digital literacy among our people. We are adopting an inclusive approach,’’ said Dr. Matiang’i.
In a speech read by the Cabinet Secretary for Planning and Devolution, Miss Ann Waiguru on behalf of the Deputy President Hon. William Ruto,he said it was increasingly becoming impossible t o a ch i e ve e c o n o m i c d e ve l o p m e n t without the integration of ICTs, especially broadband, in all facets of the economy. ‘‘National economic development and prosperity in this age cannot be fully realized in the absence of a robust broadband ecosystem. This is why we need a clear road map that defines, and articulates the national ICT agenda,’’ he said. Hon. Ruto pledged the government’s commitment to invest more in the subsector
Dr. Fred Matiang’i, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), lauded the launch and called for increased consultations to make the broadband a reality for Kenyans.
The US Government provided technical support towards developing the National Broadband Strategy through USAID’s Global Broadband and Innovations (GBI) initiative. Mr. Robert F. Godec, US Ambassador to Kenya, said the launch marked a milestone in the development of ICTs in Kenya. The US envoy said Kenya had made significant strides in the ICT sector, from the revolutionary MPESA to taking the lead in the number of internet users on the continent. Mr. Francis Wangusi, Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) Director General, termed ICTs as a critical pillar of development and called for the establishment of an infrastructure that would enhance communication networks in the country.
‘‘ICTs, and in particular Broadband networks, are now as important as transport, power or water networks. This is therefore a very cheerful moment for us as we launch the framework for the deployment o f b r o a d b a n d i n Ke nya ,’’ h e s a i d . The strategy proposes a Ksh250 billion budget to fund the development of the broadband infrastructure, supporting national capacity building and awareness and content and innovations. The proposed finance sources include innovative financial instruments for instance: launching a Broadband Infrastructure Bond, a Broadband Venture Capital Fund as well as exploiting existing instruments such as the Growth Enterprise Market available within the Capital Markets plus increased government spending on ICT of up to 5%. This came barely a month after the 20th EACO Congress and Exhibition themed “Making Broadband work for SocioEconomic Growth” that was held in Nairobi. The Congress hosted by East African Communication Organisation (EACO) and CCK has the onus to help regional Governments of East Africa develop enabling policy and regulatory interventions to spur ICT development.
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NEWS
Mining firm to build KShs. 12.8bn factory
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ortec Mining Kenya Ltd is set to build a factory in Mrima Hill in Kwale County for processing of niobium and other rare earths, bringing the Sh12.8 billion project closer to realisation. The company, which was awarded a 21-year special mining licence in March, is seeking approval from environmental agencies to construct the plant. Niobium is used to produce high strength low alloy (HSLA) as an additive to ordinary steel, increasing its strength while reducing its weight. “The total plant area footprint measures approximately 460,000 metres squared. The plant will operate 24 hours per day, six days per week allowing one day per week for maintenance,” reads a statement by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema). Cortec has undertaken exploratory drilling at Mrima Hill since it was issued with the licence and has confirmed 105 metric tonne mineral deposits in the area. A report by Nema states that the current high grade niobium resource at Mrima Hill can be mined over 15 to 20 years. The deposit is considered world class and ranks amongst the top six in the world. The opening of the plant will come as a major boost to the mining sector,
• Mrima Hills, Kwale County
which earlier received a blow with the announcement by Goldplat that it was closing its Western Kenya operations due to losses. Currently, Brazil is the largest exporter of niobium accounting for more than 90 per cent of total global exports, followed by Canada. Consumption of niobium in the world has been on the increase, especially in China which consumes almost 30 per cent of the global supply. Cortec Mining is a subsidiary of Canadian company Pacific Wildcat Resources Corp (PAW), which is focused on a number of rare earth, tantalum and niobium projects in Africa. Several firms are actively exploring for
minerals at the Coast in a bid to ride on the increased global demand. Australia’s Base Resources is mining for titanium in Kwale and expects to make its first shipment later this year. Base Resources expects the project’s annual production of titanium ore to include 330,000 tonnes of ilmenite and 80,000 tonnes of rutile and 40,000 tonnes of zircon mineral and the firm has started signing contracts with potential customers of titanium mineral to be produced in its Sh26 billion mining field. The government has elevated mining from a departmental office to a full ministry, underlining the prospects of the industry. Ministry head Najib Balala has identified the setting up of a new legislative structure as his key priority. There has been a standoff between the government and mining companies after the State passed a law that requires all mining companies to have local ownership of at least 35 per cent. After setting up necessary legislation, the mining ministry will spend Sh5 billion to carry out geographical surveys aimed at identifying resources in the country and their quantities. Other mineral resources prospected in the country include gold and coal. The country is also prospecting on the commercial viability of oil deposits discovered in northern Kenya.
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NEWS
Computer giants enter smartphone race
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echnology manufacturer HP (Hewlett Packard), best known for producing laptops, tablets and other computer peripherals has announced plans to re- enter the Smartphone market. The tech giant though late in entering the market still urges that there are still things that can be done. They urge that by “being late you have to create a different set of proposition” and thus they intend to offer a “differentiated experience”. Th e y e n t e r a m a r k e t t h a t h a s f o r s o m e t i m e n o w b e e n dominated by the likes of Samsung, Apple, Nokia, HTC and others. The company follows the world’s second-largest personal computer manufacturer, Lenovo who joined the market in 2011.The Beijing based tech giant debuted its smartphones in India in November, last year, testlaunching six handsets in the south of India. It also in June this year added five new models to cater to both entry-level and premium users. According to a report by Strategy Analytics, India is the thirdlargest Smartphone market in the world after United States and China. With Lenovo having a good share in the Indian market, that gives them a good ground in the increasingly competitive smart phone market. Samsung last year rose to the top position as the best seller of Smartphones after toppling Apple who had held that position for some time. The battle however continues with new brands coming up every “season”.
State embraces Jua Kali sector in industrializaion drive
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fforts by the Kenyan government to foster industrial development will significantly involve the integration of the Jua Kali sector in the country’s economic main-fold, Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed has confirmed. As part of the strategic efforts to enhance the economic contribution derived from Jua Kali (Micro and Small Enterprises) industry, the Ministry of Industrialisation and Enterprise Development is gearing up to facilitate capacity building programmes and policies for the sector. Speaking in his office when he hosted a delegation of Jua Kali Sector stakeholders, Mohamed singled out the much-touted supply of furniture to the government as one of the strategic economic lifelines recently extended to the sector. The recent review of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act through the publishing of the Public Procurement and Disposal (Amendment) Regulations 2013 by his National Treasury Counterpart and the new for the Small and Medium Enterprises Laws, Mohamed noted had
opened a window for public bodies to do business with Jua Kali sector players. Among other preferences, the new Public Procurement Regulations provide for exclusive preference to local contractors offering furniture, textiles, foodstuffs and other locally made goods. However, Mohamed expressed regret that lack of capacity and adherence to quality standards by Jua Kali players was likely to slow down the gains made from such a sector stimulus plan.
He assured that the Ministry will forge a working partnership with key players in the Jua Kali sector and relevant government bodies to build capacity and embrace global production standards and practices. In attendance during the stakeholders meeting were representatives from the Sector led by the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations, Secretary General Mr. Charles Kalomba, the federation’s CEO, Mr. Richard Muteti and top Ministry officials.
• Jua Kali Artisans at work
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NEWS movement linkages with major corridors such as Nairobi –Thika Highway, the Eastern Bypass and Nairobi –Mombasa Highway”, says the report. The road corridor is highly built-up with residential, medium to high commercial features and low level industrial activities. The total length of the project road is approximately 13Km, comprising of 2 lane carriageway. Most of the Mombasa port bound freight traffic from Thika Road uses this road from industrial establishments in the area.
Road upgrade to divert traffic from Kenya’s Capital
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n a mission to curb the traffic congestion in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, the Kenyan government together with the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KURA) has embarked on a mission to upgrade the Outer Ring Road. The resettlement and Action Plan has been concluded with recommendations that those affected be compensated before the works begin. “This Resettlement and Action Plan will be implemented by compensating the individuals affected by the proposed road activities”, says a statement in the report seen by Kenya Engineer.
• Pangani Tunnel along Thika road
The road which connects Thika Rd (A2) and Mombasa Rd (A109) trunk roads starts at the junction of GSU along Thika road and ends at the Eastern bypass road. The road traverses through an intense development of industrial establishments from GSU to Mathare River Crossing, at Jogoo Road and Outering Junction up to Ngong River and after Tassia Estate. “The upgrade of the road will enhance smooth traffic flow and improve traffic
The road provides appropriate connectivity mainly of Nairobi –Thika Highway to among other corridors Eastern Bypass, Kangundo Road, Northern Bypass, Mombasa Road and the all-important Kenyan Gateway, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The 13km road stretch covers the following areas: Mlango Kubwa; Kiamaiko; Huruma; Kariobangi; Umoja; Mukuru; and Embakasi. “The Project has allowed for a 9m raised central median that will in future serve as the corridor for Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System.”
Dam project for Makueni County in Kenya
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ater authority, Tanathi Water Service Board in Kenya has embarked on a mission to construct a dam in the eastern part of the country. Thwake water supply and sanitation Dam as it is known will be a Multi-purpose Dam located in the greater lower eastern areas of Makueni County in Kenya. Th e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e 2 , 9 0 0 Hectares dam will see to the resettlement of 1067owners of properties through a resettlement action plan at a total cost of Ksh 2,261,382,500.It is envisioned that it will provide water for domestic use (10,565 m3per day) for the communities living in Makueni and the neighboring districts. The Dam area is spread across the greater lower eastern areas of Makueni, Kathonzweni, Mbooni East and lower Yatta. It’s predicted to have a potential for water supply for domestic and industrial use, as well as hydropower and irrigation purposes. In addition, it will also facilitate irrigation
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• Gogo dam in Migori
activities mainly within Makueni district where water can easily gravitate and also hydropower generation. Other offsite water uses of the Dam water include; fishing, direct irrigation for small scale food production, eco-tourism,
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
improved sanitation and hygiene. Th e p r o j e c t i s c u r r e n t l y a t t h e resettlement stage with the government of Kenya together with African Development Bank as key players in the project.
NEWS
Government sets sight on revamping the Textile sector
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he government has announced plans to facilitate the creation of more than 500,000 new jobs in the country’s textile sector in the next 24 months. Speaking at the Export Processing Zones Complex in Athi River, the Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization Adan Mohamed disclosed that his ministry will seek to address challenges affecting textile and clothing industryin the country. Th e M i n i s t r y, M o h a m e d , s a i d , i s spearheading a raft of new measures aimed at boosting local textile production, curbing the threat of Mitumba imports while addressing the hurdles hindering investments in the sector. The EPZ Apparel’s Sector, Mohamed noted, currently employs more than 35,000 people in the EPZ alone, and has the potential to generate approximately 500,000 jobs across the entire value chain in the country over the next 24monthsif the right mix of policy interventions are implemented.
• EPZ - Athi River Staff at work
“The Ministry is also spearheading the Special Economic Zones bill that will aim to fast-track investments in the country by facilitating investments across other interdependent sectors,’’Mohamed said. He added: “however, even as we address the challenges that have persisted in the sector, I wish to appeal to the investors based in and out of the EPZ to consider
investing in the local textile production value chain, to realize quick gains for the country, the players and ultimately benefit our cotton farmers. E P Z A u t h o r i t y C h a i r m a n M r. MathengeWanderi accompanied Mr. Mohamed during the tour to the EPZ complex in Athi River.
Plans on track to link airport via railway line
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arely 1 year after the launch of the Syokimau Railway Station in Kenya, the country is now set to start works on another railway line linking Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the city centre (Nairobi) in a few months time. The project expected to take two years is estimated to cost Sh6 billion. The Kenyan government has taken a major step towards sorting traffic issues that have for a long time been a major problem in the country and especially the capital, Nairobi. It has proposed to set-up 26 railway stations in the Nairobi metropolitan area. The new stations will be modeled along the Syokimau Railway Station model, which will have a parking area for vehicles and will be based in all corners of the city.
• New Railway Station under construction at GM, Mombasa Rooad
The other proposed railway stations are; Donholm, Embakasi village, Mutindwa, Nyayo Station, Limuru Road, Olympic and several other areas around the city.
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COVER STORY
|| Developing Nairobi County roads and Infrastructure ||
• Globe flyover
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enya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) the authority charged with managing urban roads is seeking Sh10 billion for construction and repair of damaged roads in estates around Nairobi. It costs about Sh50 million to construct one kilometer of a standard road. Besides the effort to maintain the networks that exist, the Kenyan government is currently undertaking the development of Nairobi Bypass Projects meant to decongest the city and boost trade. There are also missing link roads around the city, which are under construction. Missing links A study by Kura and Japan investment cooperation Agency {JICA} between 2004 and 2006 discovered 16 missing link roads, four of which are complete, 10 under construction currently and 2 not yet started. The missing links include the roads from Kileleshwa Police Station to Westlands Roundabout designated as Missing Link 3 and measuring about 1.7km, from Oloitoktok road to Kileleshwa police station designated as Missing Link 6 and 2.85km in length and Missing Link 7 which is between James Gichuru Road and Ngong Road with
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a distance of 3.75km. These missing links are complete. The missing link roads, identified and prioritized through Nairobi Urban Transport Master Plan connect Waiyaki Way at Westlands roundabout, Lantana Road and Riverside drive to Ngong Road through Mandera Road. Missing link 7 joins Gitanga Road at Valley Arcade and James Gichuru Road, Yaya Centre and Ngong Road. Part of it includes a 2.85km stretch connecting Mandera Road to Ole Odume Road at Mazeras Junction. These constructions are being implemented through the flagship project under the Enablers and Macro Sector of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and will be completed on August 15 2013. The scope of the project is to construct two way two lane roads, set segregated cycle tracks, construct pedestrian walkways, install street lighting and traffic signals, landscape and plant trees, fix Portal culverts and storm water drainage facilities. A report by KURA indicates that the contractor, Nippo Corporation of Japan, has undertaken most of the works on these projects.
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
Bypasses The bypass projects are under Kenya National Highway Authority and will comprise northern bypass to link Limuru road to Thika Road, eastern bypass to link Mombasa road to Ruiru in Kiambu and southern bypass to run from Kikuyu to Mombasa road via Ngong road & Langata The 70km-Northern and Eastern bypasses are almost complete {Eastern 39 and Northern 31}, with construction of the biggest interchange in the country at the City Cabanas flyover section having resumed. The construction of the 17.2 billion shillings southern bypass is in progress and the work currently stands above 23 percent. The bypass covering 28.6 kilometers dual carriageway, is to be completed in July 2015, and will ease traffic congestion in Nairobi Central Business District by up to 40%. Upgrading of Upper Hill Roads Phase 1 The Constructions of Upper Hill Roads is currently in progress and it is expected to be completed by 22nd May, 2014. The roads measuring 5.4km include; Hospital Road, Elgon Road, Kilimanjaro Road, Bunyala
COVER STORY Road, Mara Road and Upper Hill Roads and a section of Ole Sangale. This will be the Phase one of the expected overhaul of roads infrastructure in the Upper Hill area. Th e c o n t ra c t awa r d e d t o m / s Mattan Contractors Ltd started in 23rd May, 2012 at the Cost of Kshs.2Billion. Th e Ke nya n g ove r n m e n t u n d e r Development Fund will fund the project. Th e C o n t ra c t o r h a s e x c ava t e d top soils, filled several layers of the base and has started preparing for tarmacking in sections like in Elgon Road. The scopes of the works include the construction of 2 way 2 lane (7 meters each) road with a median separator, setting cycle tracks and footpaths, making drainage structures and installing street lighting Upper Hill has experienced unprecedented construction of highrise buildings with banks and other Institutions relocating their Headquarters t h e r e . Th e s e e f f o r t s t o i m p r o v e the infrastructure will immensely improve the accessibility to this area. The second phase This will include the re-construction and upgrading of Chyulu, Menengai, Mawenzi, Masaba, Kiambere, section of Ole Sangale, Karuri Gakure, Missing Links 1, 2 and 3, parts of Hospital, Mara, Upper Hill and Lower Hill Roads measuring approximately 13km. R e l o c a t i o n o f s e r v i c e s , h e av y traffic and unfavorable weather conditions have been a challenge in the works around upper hill this far.
• A section of a road under construction at Cabanas - Mombasa road
1st Phase of roads construction in Eastleigh The company, Northern Construction at the sum of Kshs. 173million undertakes Eastleigh 2nd Avenue road construction. The works started in 28 October 2011. Th e s c o p e o f t h e wo r k s i s strengthening of the existing bituminous lanes with asphalt concrete overlay or Cabro blocks on carriageway, construction of footpaths on either side of the road, setting up street lighting and storm water drainage Cabro blocks are placed in parts of the carriageway susceptible to sewer spillage during the rainy season to avoid damage that sewer water cause to the roads. It is notable that Eastleigh is experiencing acute stress in services due to increased Development that is not commensurate to the facilities like sewer line leading to overflow at slight downpour. Apart from narrow sewage system, Eastleigh is also facing a major problem of garbage disposal. Under Vision 2030, the Government of Kenya has identified Eastleigh as a future Business and Commercial hub while Upper Hill as the financial hub of the East African
Region. It is intended that these upgrades of the Roads will spur economic activity and decongest the Nairobi Central Business District (NCBD) while attracting investment. Other roads under construction in this area include General Waruinge and Ist Eastleigh Avenue. These link this part of the city to Juja Road and Outer Ring Roads as well as City Centre. They are currently under construction by H. Young & Company Ltd at a cost of KShs.252Million and expected to be completed in August this year. Rehabilitation of Rose Avenue, Kilimani Nairobi Rehabilitation of Rose Avenue Road was awarded to triple K & I Construction Company Limited at the cost of Kshs.44.5 million and commenced in December 2012. They are to be complete by end of June, 2013. The 0.7-kilometer road starts at Denis Pritt Road and ends in Jabavu Road. In as much as works is in progress, the adverse rainy conditions experienced between December and April, traffic flow, water and sewerage leakages, encroachments on the road corridors and delay in relocation of electricity poles has been a great challenge to the project. So far, road base, culvert and drainage works are still pending, with these constituting a l a r g e p e rc e n t a g e o f t h e p r o j e c t . The Nairobi city residents and visitors are assured of better existence once these road infrastructure works are completed. What good riddance to the notorious traffic jams and a way to reduce accidents along the busy roads! It could also be a way to change the driving culture to a walking one with good walking and cycling lanes.
• Construction of upper hill roads in progress
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PROFILE
She broke her dad’s TV...and there grew the passion for Engineering.
years old Engineer Grace Onyango is the Technical Director at Digital Drawing Solutions. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, her specific functions include establishing market needs with regard to technical sector, providing solutions to technical problems that may arise and also cater for training with regard to Design Software. Kenya Engineer had a chat with Engineer Grace and filed the following profile. Growing up as a young lady did you always want to be an Engineer? No, I wanted to be a teacher until I broke my parent’s TV set in curiosity of how the people were talking from in there. I was also good at Sciences and my father nurtured my love for the Sciences and here I am, as an engineer. What challenges, if any, does a lady face while undertaking her engineering career? Which ones affected you the most? The gender imbalance in the Engineering sector is a challenge. Well, my first job as an Engineer; I worked in the Ministry of Public Works for about five years. I was the only lady working in that Department and I felt had to deliver about 110% in my work. There are few ladies in the industry and you can’t wait to be recognized, but have to work for it; work to being different.
Why do you think over the years there has been a low number of female students taking Engineering courses? I think there’s a perception which actually starts in High School that Mathematics and science subjects are difficult and you’ll find a lot of ladies shy away from that. And then, when they get to University they can’t qualify for the technical courses given they didn’t take the technical options from High School. You’ll get very few ladies, maybe two or three in a class of 70, and in first year, they can be very many but by the end of that year, many will have dropped out and taken other options. And not only that, there are those who go until the end; they finish and graduate but they’ll never take up a technical job in the Industry. They will end up in different sectors but not engineering jobs. Will this change anytime soon? Yes, It’s changing because there a lot of Women Organizations that are coming up; Women in Science, Women in Technology that’s for IT(Information Technology), there’s one called STEMAfrica , which is going round encouraging ladies to take up the technical subjects. They talk to students in High Schools and Universities. Not forgetting, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has set up the Young Engineers Chapter and the Women Engineers Chapter. The latter is encouraging ladies to come up and take up Engineering. Do you believe we have internal capacity as a country to achieve the goals specified in vision 2030? It’s believed that Engineering is the mother and father of Industrialization in any Country. If you look at Japan, China most of the Countries in Asia and some of the newly industrialized countries, most of the key positions in Government are held by Engineers. There’s a study that has been done by the EBK, called The Engineering Manpower Assessment, which helps to align Engineers the demand and supply and what Vision 2030 is trying to achieve. Now we’ve discovered oil, it’s engineering that will drive that, from extraction to the time it gets to the market, but most of the
beneficiaries-the companies that are doing that are international companies. We need to train our engineers because we are undersupplying and again our training curriculum is really not to the international standard. Therefore, when engineers get out of the university it’s difficult to get a job because I think they’re not being prepared well for the industry. If you get one, the employer has to train them more on what the expectation is. As Digital Drawing Solutions we’re selling software from Autodesk- do Software for Architecture, Design and the likes. They have free engineering software for Universities, so I’m linking Universities to Autodesk. I’m actually taking the software to the universities so that students are able to learn because you’ll find an engineer who goes maybe to a consultant’s office, does not have any idea about how to use a design tool; everything is being done on software and students don’t know. Any major highlights you can outline in your engineering career? When I registered, I was the youngest registered Engineer in the Country. I was the first young engineer elected as a member of IEK and being the Chairperson of the Young Engineers Chapter in the East African Federation of Engineering Organizations. What do you do when not on duty? I read a lot. My current read is, As Silver Refined by Kay Arthur. I’m born again, so I do a lot of Church work. I was the Secretary for my National Youth Work for my church all over the country. I teach Sunday school; my classes are from about 3-12 years old children. At times we have children coming from Mama Ngina Children’s home; they’re my babies as well. What would be your advice and parting shot to upcoming lady engineers? Ladies should not fear the technical careers, there’s a lot of opportunity. If I went for an interview today for example, I think because of gender, what I have achieved and being registered as well, I’d probably be picked over my male counterpart. So, it can be done, it doesn’t really matter.
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FEATURE
Kenya Discovers oil but refinery risks a shut down The Patriots take on the Kenyan Oil and the Kenyan refinery
Introduction he Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL) is the only refinery in East Africa. It has an installed capacity of 3.2 million tonnes per year (70,000 bpd –barrels per day) but currently processes 1.6 million tonnes per year against a regional demand of 5.7 million tonnes. It also produces 30,000 tonnes of LPG annually compared to an estimated regional demand of 62,000 tonnes. KPRL is a privately owned limited l i a bi l i t y c omp a ny with th e Government of Kenya owning 50% of the company’s equity and the other 50% is held by Essar Energy Overseas Limited. Th e r e f i n e r y i s a t o l l i n g o n e earning revenue by charging a fee for processing crude oil for its customers. The oil marketers import the crude oil, give it to KPRL who process it and give it back to them to sell to the populace. Processing agreements have been entered into between KPRL and all its customers.
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KPRL was originally set up by Shell and the British Petroleum Company (BP) to serve the East African region in the supply of oil products. The Company was founded in 1960, under the name East African Oil Refineries Limited. The first refinery complex, commissioned in 1963 had distillation, hydro-treating, catalytic reforming and bitumen production units. The second refinery train having distillation, hydro-treating and reforming u n i t s wa s c o m m i s s i o n e d i n 1 9 7 4 . History at a glance 1959: Ke nya ’s C o l o n i a l G ove r n m e n t Agreement with ‘Consolidated’ (50% Shell, 50% BP) 1960: East African Oil Refineries Limited Incorporated 1963: C o m p l e x I c o m p l e t e d a n d commissioned 1963: Esso and Caltex become Shareholders 1970: Grease Plant Constructed 1971: G o v e r n m e n t a c q u i r e 5 0 %
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Shareholding 1974: C o m p l e x I I c o m p l e t e d a n d commissioned 1983: Change of name to - Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited. 1994: Deregulation leading to introduction of base load and processing fees changes 1996: N e w C o n t r o l C e n t e r ( D C S ) commissioned 1997: Esso sold their shares 1998: KPRL Laboratory ISO 9002 Certified 2005: C ommencement of production of unleaded mogas 2007: N ew Laboratory completed and commissioned 2009: Essar acquired 50% of shares from Shell, BP and Chevron Currently East African states are undertaking numerous exploration activities in the various regions and significant discoveries have been realized. Tanzania discovered gas in the Songo Songo basin, Mnazi
FEATURE and refining oil to play a bigger role in the global market. Africa has 50 refineries out of a global population of 689 refineries. The average processing capacity of refineries in Africa is 70,000 bpd, lower than the world average of 122,500 bpd. East Africa with only one refinery which processes70,000 bpd has the lowest distribution of refineries in Africa by extension in the world. All the refineries in Africa are of the topping/reforming type, except for the four refineries in South Africa, two in Egypt, three in Nigeria, one in Cote d’Ivoire, and another in Ghana, which are of the cracking type. Value addition To achieve maximum value addition from the regional fossil fuels and to improve the quality of life in East Africa, the following should be the main goals with respect to oil in the reckoning of a patriot:• • • • • • KPRL refinery plant
• Bay and Mkuranga of which production started in 2004. Further exploration activities are in progress in the coastal and off shore areas in the Indian Ocean. Uganda has made oil discoveries in some of the exploration areas in the Albert Graben. More exploration work is being undertaken. There are also exploration activities in the Northern and Lamu regions of Kenya. Lake Kivu in Rwanda also holds a promise for oil. All these present a great potential of a strong oil and gas industry in the region. Traditionally Global refineries have been large and fewer, most of which were set up more than 30 years ago. The industrial countries have a reluctance to build new refineries suggesting that the refining industry will go back to the locations of the crude oil production, OPEC (Oil Producing and Exporting Countries). This will allow the countries producing
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Boost the region’s refining capacity Contribute to the region’s growing energy needs Attain security of supply of fossil fuels in the region Achieve least cost supply of products Earn revenues to support development in the region including poverty reduction, education, health and other human development Create investment opportunities in the region Create employment and assist in wealth distribution Enable transfer of knowledge and ensure availability of technically qualified human resource in the region Facilitate the region’s industrialization process.
To achieve the above mentioned goals, there is need to develop; refineries, storage facilities, pipelines, port facilities, railways, roads and the human resource. The Patriot’s take The Patriot (writer) wonders what happened to boosting the Kenyan economy and creating jobs amid the concerted effort to shut down KPRL. What happened to promoting the local Kenyan industry? In a meeting held at Mombasa on June 26 2013 and attended by the Kenyan cabinet secretary for energy Davis Chirchir and the top management of the KPRL
among them the board Chairman, Suleiman Shakombo, the move not to close the plant was supported however, actions dooming the plant are still rife. Chirchir emerged from the meeting to announce that the refinery was in urgent need of some $1.2 billion if it were to get back on its feet. It must be remembered that earlier this year, Standard Chartered Bank advised on raising $1 billion to revamp the 50-year-old refinery. In a curious move that signifies intent, the $18 billion national budget, unveiled mid June, did not factor any money towards the revamping of the facility signaling the Kenyan government’s desire to shut down the facility. “You realize that due to the outdated technology, oil products processed by this refinery contain unusually high levels of sulphur which make them medically unsafe. Other refineries produce cleaner and cheaper products,” Chirchir said. These kinds of statements to The Patriot do not signify good faith but retrogressive thoughts. To simply state a problem of stagnation and not seek to solve it by upgrading the facility but by killing it is the climax of malady in thought. “If closed, the oil discovery in Kenya cited all over the media will be a mockery since the country will have to export crude oil for refining before importing it as finished products at a higher price,” he said and to this the flag-waver concurs. The refinery directly employs about 250 workers and offers about 750 jobs indirectly to contractors. It serves Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo. Oil curse The Patriot usually celebrates the discovery of oil as a source of wealth and economic growth. Many nations are now scouring the earth to uncover new sources of oil with a view it will thrust them into prosperity a n d a b rave n e w wo r l d . H ow e ve r, recent history shows that the presence of oil in a developing country makes life worse, not better, for most of its patriots. It is the poorest who pay the most to satisfy the growing thirst for fuel for the rich. In these developing economies, the revenues from oil have not been utilized to the benefit of the societies and communities. On the contrary, such
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FEATURE countries have experienced numerous strife, revenue mismanagement, corruption and increased poverty, dashing the expectations of an oil boom and associated benefits. The environmental impacts of these discoveries and subsequent oil production on the lives of the poor are enormous. This is the “oil curse”. I t i s o f e s s e n c e t h e n t h a t a ny country that discovers oil will have to bear in mind this syndrome and put in place appropriate mitigation measures. The case for improvement The regional growing demand of 162,000 bpd of oil implies an annual foreign expenditure of over US$6 billion at the current crude oil price of US$ 102 per barrel. This is a huge expenditure compared to export-earnings of the region. The existence of the Mombasa refinery plays an important role in the petroleum products supply system for the east and central African region. In addition to providing the centre for key development skills, KPRL generates revenue and supplies
key petroleum products to the regional market. It is in the overall interest of the region that the Mombasa refinery is upgraded to operate at full capacity. Upgrading of the KPRL will enable it meet the current challenges and improve on its efficiency. In the wake of the global trend in the movement of oil and energy requirements, rising prices, the existence of the KPRL acts as a balancing mechanism in the regional petroleum products supply system. When KPRL is upgraded to full capacity, i.e. 3.2 million tonnes, it will be able to supply over 90% of the Kenya’s current demand and will have a spillover effect to the supply economics of the region The case for a new refinery At a glance on the oil situation in East and central Africa, The Patriot distinctly notices the potential roles of a new refinery as is evident in the following paragraphs; ²² Refining the crude produced in the region adds value to the crude {and price} compared to exporting
crude raw. In addition to the primary products of refining, there are a number of industries that use feedstock from refinery products. These include; petrochemical industries, bitumen and asphalt manufacturing, pharmaceuticals etc. ²² Th e d e m a n d f o r p e t r o l e u m products in the wider East African region that is estimated at 162,000 bpd and projected at 475,000 bpd in 2030 cannot be satisfied by KPRL even after the planned modernization. ²² Once a refinery is set up together with the attendant manufacturing industries, there will be opportunities for employment created and a general improvement of the standards of living of the people. This also enables the development of a local human resource capacity and lifting lives. ²² The crude oil discovered in Uganda this far has a high pour point and solidifies at a temperature lower than 40 degrees. Transportation of this type of crude oil over a long distance in a pipeline would necessitate heating the pipeline. For very long distances, this can be a very expensive undertaking. Therefore, the refinery would need to be located not far from the oil fields. ²² When the local crude is refined in the region, the products will be easily available to the countries in the region. This will improve access and security of supply of these products by reducing the supply lead time among other benefits. To shelf or do away with such a monumental company in this region and by far Africa at such a time when we have just discovered the black gold is such a glum, The Patriot will say. To produce oil, as we will be doing soon then export it to be refined only to import it back will simply be preposterous.
The refinery directly employs about 250 workers and offers about 750 jobs indirectly to contractors. 23
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FEATURE
Investing in Geothermal Energy A review of the Longonot Geothermal Power Project
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n July 2009, the Ministry of Energy in Kenya granted Africa Geothermal I n t e r n a t i o n a l L i m i t e d ( AG I L ) - a company set up specifically to develop the Longonot geothermal resource in Kenyaa license to develop geothermal power in a 132 square kilometer concession area centered on Mount Longonot. The area falls within Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, just south of Lake Naivasha. The search for geothermal energy is not new in Kenya, it started in 1957 yielding only 209 MW by this moment against a massive potential estimated at 7000 MW to 10,000 MW. In an effort to enhance the development of geothermal resources in the country, Geothermal Development Company (GDC) was created to focus efforts on harnessing this energy form. In Vision 2030, Kenya aspires to become a mid-income economy. To attain this, the Kenyan government f o r e c a s t s t o g e n e ra t e 1 5 , 0 0 0 M W. 5000 MW from geothermal. Today, the country’s total effective installed c a p a c i t y s t a n d s a t 1 5 3 3 M W. More than 14 high temperature potential sites occur along the Kenyan Rift Valley with an estimated potential o f m o r e t h a n 1 5 , 0 0 0 M W. O t h e r locations include: Homa Hills in Nyanza, Mwananyamala at the Coast and Nyambene Ridges. These prospects are at different stages of development.
is being pulled apart by tectonic forces. Volcanoes are formed where hot magma pushes up through the earth’s crust. Over thousands of years, successive eruptions form the volcano’s distinctive cone shape. Water in the ground beneath the volcano becomes very hot and forms a reservoir of geothermal fluid, trapped at high pressure. With high pressure, steam can form. Minerals surrounding the geothermal fluid can become dissolved, adding salts to the fluid, which is why it is often referred to as brine. The geothermal fluids are pumped to a power plant, where steam is separated from the brine fluids. The steam is passed through turbines that turn generators which produce the electricity. The electricity is exported to the electricity network and supplied to Kenyan homes and businesses. Harnessing the steam There are different technologies for capturing geothermal energy. Some initial ground drilling will have to be done before the best method is adopted. Currently, the AGIL team expects to use the same technologies used successfully at the Olkaria I and II geothermal power plants in Kenya. This is known as flash-steam technology. The flash-steam process involves taking the geothermal fluid held deep within the ground and converting this
to steam. The steam is passed through a steam turbine, which powers a generator to produce electricity. After it passes through the turbine the steam is condensed, turning to water. This water is then pumped back into the ground in a responsible way to protect the environment and help replenish the geothermal resource. The development at Longonot will use two separate power plant units, with the option to add additional units in the future if additional geothermal power production capacity is available. Timelines Longonot Geothermal Project news archive 08-04-2013 Kenya Power & AGIL sign a 140 MW Power Purchase Agreement. The Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited (Kenya Power) and AGIL sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for development of a 140 MW Longonot Geothermal Project. Under the PPA, AGIL will develop the establishment then sell the electricity to Kenya Power 02-02-2013 Wet season ecology surveys for 2013. The Longonot Geothermal Project plans wet season ecology surveys for 2013 prior to the beginning of construction works for the exploration phase later in the year. 08-01-2013 initialing of the power purchase agreement
The geothermal steam under Geothermal power production uses the heat from deep in the ground to provide a clean, reliable source of energy. Underground water and steam which has been super-heated by volcanic activity is used to produce electricity. The high temperatures found deep in the earth’s core are believed to be from heat left over from when the earth was formed. These temperatures are transferred closer to the surface by volcanic activity. Existing geothermal power production has confirmed these conditions in the Great Rift Valley. Here, the earth’s crust is relatively thin and volcanoes have formed as a result of the rift process, where the crust
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FEATURE 23-11-2012 Clean Development Mechanism Host Country approval received from NEMA 31-08-2012 Amendment of geothermal license 01-08-2012 Clean Development Mechanism draft validation report received from Designated Operational Entity 18-04-2012 Project granted Environmental Impact Assessment license 2 9 - 0 3 - 2 0 1 2 Po w e r p l a n t c o n c e p t Environmental Impact Assessment license 0 7 - 0 2 - 2 0 1 2 N a t i o n a l E nv i r o n m e n t Management Authority site visit and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment presentation 10-11-2011 Kenya Wildlife Service letter of no objection for exploration drilling 02-06-2011 Water Resource Management Authority letter of no objection for the construction of an earth dam 12-05-2011 Exploration drilling Environmental Impact Assessment licence issued by the National Environment Management Authority 04-04-2011 Clean Development Mechanism Project Design Document submitted to the National Environment Management Authority for Host Country Approval 19-08-2010 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment terms of reference approved by the National Environment Management Authority 13-07-2010 Peer review with KenGen, Kenya Power, GDC and international experts 24-06-2010 Clean Development Mechanism, Environmental, and Social Impact Assessment stakeholders’ consultation 1 6 - 0 2 - 2 0 1 0 N a t i o n a l E nv i r o n m e n t Management Authority issues Host Country letter of no objection for UNFCCC Clean
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• A section of Olkaria Geothermal plant
Development Mechanism 16-02-2010 Geosystem of Italy appointed to undertake magneto-telluric survey 18-01-2010 Environmental scoping commences 15-01-2010 Letter of support to Kenya Wildlife Service issued by Ministry of Energy 21-12-2009 SKM starts geoscientific fieldwork 09-07-2009 Kenyan Ministry of Energy has awarded Agil a Geothermal Resources License for the Longonot License Area Overview Agil has been granted a license that includes the right to use the geothermal resource and carry out necessary activities to conduct geothermal operations for a period of 30 years, with an option for a five-year extension. The Ministry of Energy requires the development to be economically, environmentally and socially responsible. The power plant commercial operation date is scheduled for 2018. Project development and construction activities will be carried out in the interim period. Kenya Power Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Joseph Njoroge, said the PPA is an important step forward in enabling the country meet its Vision 2030 utilizing geothermal power that is cost effective and environmentally friendly So far, activities carried out by Agil include geo-scientific field surveys, environmental and social studies, civil design surveys and a water supply options study. The geo-scientific field surveys
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help define the extent of the potential geothermal resource and its characteristics. This field program comprised a range of geological, geochemical, and geophysical exploration activities. The results strongly indicate a geothermal system suitable for power generation. The development of the scheme will consist of the main power plant, with cooling towers, a turbine h a l l , t r a n s f o r m e r s , a s w i t c hy a r d , administration and maintenance buildings. Th e p r o j e c t a l s o h a s a s t e a m field, comprising pipes connecting approximately 17 well pads for wells that take steam out of the ground, or return condensed steam back to the ground. To facilitate movement there will be a series of connecting access roads around the site. The project will undertake these activities in four phases: Preparation, Exploration, Appraisal and Construction. With the first stage of preparation completed, the second phase of exploratory drilling work is expected to begin in late 2013, lasting 14-18 months. The main objective of this phase is to drill exploration wells to confirm that suitable temperatures exist to provide usable geothermal energy. In addition to the drilling and testing of exploration wells, activities will include road construction; obtaining drilling rigs; and provision of water supplies. In preparation for the initial drilling, surveys have been made to allow design work to begin on the access road, the well pad locations and the water reservoir location. After the final phase {Construction}, commercial operation is scheduled to begin with plant commissioning in 2018.
FEATURE
A NEW DAWN
K
enya’s railway network is subject to change in the quest to achieve Vision 2030. This was reinforced in a consultative forum held in Nairobi in July between the respective ministers responsible for transport from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. The changes include construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that links Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, which is expected to move over 28million metric tonnes of cargo. The MombasaKampala-Kigali SGR line is said to cover around 2937km and cost $13.5billion (1.17 trillion Ksh). According to the Minister for Privatization in Uganda, Aston Kajara, $11.5billion will cater for the infrastructure and the remaining $2billion resource the rolling stocks. This project will be taken as a block but each state will take up the burden of repayment. The Cabinet secretary for Roads and Infrastructure in Kenya, Eng. Michael Kamau, said that each member state would commission the undertaking of SGR developments in their country within their stipulated timeline. “All countries will commit to establish a Railway Development Fund and allot sufficient budgetary allocation to the development of the SGR that is scheduled to be completed by January 2018,” he said. The Kenyan Government established a Railway Development Fund that comes from a levy of 1.5 percent of the cost of import freights in the current financial year, 2013/2014. In June, the Kenyan Government
for Kenya’s Railway Transport
• Turnstiles at New Hamsa Railway Station
also allocated KSh.22 billion to commence the construction aimed at improving the turn-round time and reduce significantly the cost of freight from Mombasa to Kisumu, by as much as 79 percent from about Ksh.140, 000 to Ksh.30, 000. Eng. Kamau said that ground breaking for the construction of the MombasaNairobi SGR is expected in November 2013. The Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali rail project entails: a 1,185km line from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi linking Malaba and branching to Kisumu; over 1,399km from Malaba to Kampala with four (4) branches to different towns in Uganda which then connects to the main line linking to Rwanda through Mirima Hills; a 200 km line from Mirima Hills to Kigali and an additional 150km rail to other towns in Rwanda. The project aims to transfer freight and passengers from roads to rail, reducing road damage and providing safe and rapid inter-city transportation. The SGR will allow freight trains of up to 120 kilometer per hour (km/h) and 180 km/h passenger fleets. Initially, the railway line ascended from Mombasa to Kisumu linking cities such as Voi, Taveta, Magadi, Nairobi, Nanyuki, Nakuru, Kitale, Kisumu and Butere. With Kenya’s Vision 2030,launched in 2008, need arose to develop the railway network with the objective of easing movement of passengers, goods and services and as a result, reduce the overall cost of doing business in Kenya. Moreover, the findings from East African Railways Master Plan study (2009) suggested links that would further
enhance competitiveness in trade and foster economic development within the East African countries, Kenya being one of them also contributed to advancing railway. According to the report, railways should occupy a dominant role in important transport markets which includes: longdistance container markets, mediumdistance bulk markets, commuter traffic in major cities and intercity passenger transport in specialized markets; where distance is sufficient to compete with buses or where air transport is too expensive or on luxury-type markets. Railway under Vision 2030 Towards achieving Vision 2030, another flagship projects in infrastructure was establishing commuter rail networks in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa. In Nairobi County, the project involved the construction of new stations and the expansion of the Nairobi Railway station. In November 13, 2012 the former President, Mwai Kibaki launched the Syokimau Railway Station. Other stations still underway in Nairobi are Makadara and Imara Daima. According to a report by Kenya Vision 2030 on progress by February 2013, the Makadara and Imara stations were at 75% and 50% completion respectively. These stations come with ample parking for vehicles and are set to be ‘jam rescuers’ countering traffic jam through the use of trains to commute. Their site is no accident as each station serves different locations linked to the Central Business
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FEATURE
District (CBD). That is: Imara Daima station targets commuters from Industrial Area, Embakasi and Mombasa Road; Makadara targets commuters from Buru Buru, Jogoo Road, Jerusalem, Jericho, Uhuru and Hamza Estates. There’s set to be a direct link created to connect Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Syokimau Station. This will be exclusive to the airport users. On that note, in July, Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) issued a tender notice inviting proposals from qualified consulting firms for consultancy services for design review and construction supervision for the construction/rehabilitation of a railway line between Nairobi Central Railway Station and JKIA and the Supply of Matching Five (5) Diesel Electric Multiple Units. The month of June was eventful for the Railway Infrastructure. KRC held a Stakeholders meeting on the Mombasa Commuter Rail Services and the development of a modern metropolitan Commuter rail network within Kisumu city. Traffic congestion was recognized as an emerging issue being experienced in the cities on all the major road arteries linking it to adjoining towns and counties mainly due to the growing population and increased freight traffic. Both passenger and freight traffic is anticipated to bump up leading to more traffic congestion and pressure on the roads in the different cities. To a d d r e s s t h i s , K R C s a i d i t has undertaken studies necessary for development of a modern metropolitan Commuter rail network within the cities and with linkages in principal urban centers in the surrounding counties in both coastal and Lake regions. The Kisumu County project is to link its adjoining counties of Vihiga to the north, Nandi County to the North East, Kericho County to the East, Nyamira to the south, Kisii County and Homabay County to the South West and Siaya County to the west.
The lines shall address two principal areas and may be configured differently or be of different designs in order to meet the specific local needs and infrastructure constraints. The Standard Gauge Railway Th e S t a n d a r d G a u g e R a i l way network is a solution that arose from the Master Plan study (2009) in which it presented technical, operating, economic and social benefits to the country. The technical and operating benefits being: Standard gauge is safer, faster and more reliable, 80 percent of the world uses standard gauge therefore the equipment is easily accessible and cheaper, it has greater carrying capacity and hence is more efficient and cheaper to operate. The social-economic benefits are even more luring. Talk of: Kenya and the neighboring countries having a reliable and efficient interstate and intercity railway network for movement of goods and people; movement from road to rail reducing road maintenance cost and increase safety; increased inter-country trade and greater competitiveness in international trade; opening up of frontier areas like Northern Kenya and Southern Sudan; the cost of transport and logistics will initially drop to between 15% and 20% which will support rapid industrialization and sustained economic growth of between 8% and 10%. The expanded and integrated network will promote equitable social and economic development in the region resulting in wealth creation and poverty reduction not forgetting the exploitation of untapped resources and the tourism potential. The railway alignment can be used to lay fibre optic cable to provide comprehensive broad band connectivity in the region. All the above would bolster investment in the country. Other network elements that the Standard Railway Gauge project involves are: the Nairobi-Moyale line
• Construction of a Railway Station at Hamsa, Jogoo rd
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connecting to Addis Ababa; the RongaiLodwar line connecting to Juba and the Lamu-Lokichogio link to Juba as well. Pressure mounts on RVR The first railway line known as the ‘iron snake’ in Kenya was put up in1896 from Mombasa by the British government. This infrastructure was meant to link both their colonies of Kenya and Uganda. Given the latter is landlocked; the railway line would ease penetration to the state for reasons of exploitation of resources. It was completed in 1926 and was then known as Uganda Railways but then changed to Kenya-Uganda Railways in 1927. Rebranding did not end there. In fact, the series had just begun: it changed to Kenya-Uganda Railways & Harbours in 1948 and later to East African Railways & Harbours in the same year bringing in Tanzania, in 1969, it changed to East African Railways Corporation; by 1978, the three states had split up forming Kenya Railways, Uganda Railways & Tanzania Railways. Rift Valley Railways (RVR) then took over the operations of the Kenya and Uganda Railways on 1st November, 2006. Established in October 14, 2005, this body has a 25-year concession for the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of the railways, which were then run by Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), and Uganda Railways Corporation (URC). The journey has however not been a smooth one for RVR with the pressure and incompetence claims coming from the two countries. Eng. Kamau pointed out that both governments (Kenya and Uganda) have not seen the fruits of the concession. He notes that before Kenya Railways handed over to RVR, it was lifting 1.5 million tonnes but RVR is lifting only 900,000 tonnes. The rail firm built a new railway track in June of 73km between Mombasa and Nairobi at Sh1.7 billion of which the upgrade cuts cargo delivery time between the two counties by six hours. This is in line with efforts to boost performance in the cargo business as rail is expected to be the main cargo carrier. Currently, the rail firm is seeking KSh1.78 billion from its shareholders to overhaul the Kenya-Uganda decrepit track, repair wagons and locomotives following a threat by the Kenyan government i n M ay t o r e v i e w t h e c o n c e s s i o n .
FEATURE
• Aerial View of JKIA
Green Field Terminal to be completed in 2017
I
n December 2011, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) gave Anhui Construction Company, a Chinese firm, the tender to construct the new airport terminal and a second runway adjacent to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Known as the, “Greenfield Project,” the tender was worth Kshs55 billion (US$654 million). Construction of the proposed Greenfield Terminal at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is expected t o b e g i n i n N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 3 . Th e Greenfield terminal, which includes a new runway, will double the handling capacity of Kenya’s largest airport to over 20 million passengers annually. The Greenfield Terminal is scheduled to be completed in 2017 at an estimated cost of US$ 654 million (Kshs 55 billion). Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), which is implementing the project, held a series of consultative meetings with key stakeholders, giving them an opportunity to engage the project’s architects. The plan is to have stakeholder in-puts and requirements accommodated in the final designs. In July 2013, the Greenfield Project’s lead architects and supervising consultant made presentations to key JKIA Airport operators. Pascal & Watson, the architects, had a presentation on the proposed design of the terminal. Pascal & Watson have previously worked on similar projects including Heathrow Terminal 5 and Dublin Terminal 2. The Louis Berger Group, KAA’s
project supervising consultant, discussed several options considered in the master plan for the terminal with the merits and demerits of each and the suitability of hub operations for the various terminal options. The consultants had a related session with senior management of KAA and Kenya Airways, Kenya’s National carrier. On the 17th September 2003 The Kenyan Cabinet approved the conversion of the Old Embakasi Airport into a local flight terminal. Meeting under the Chairmanship of former President Mwai Kibaki, the Cabinet agreed that the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport had to be transformed into a modern and efficient hub. This step would make JKIA, a leading regional civil aviation hub. Consequently the government asked the then Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Kenya Airports Authority to come up with a comprehensive master-plan for JKIA hence the birth of the Greenfield terminal project. The Greenfield Terminal is expected to handle 20 million passengers a year and forms part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 project, which also covers the construction of the $19bn Lamu Port. The stand-alone new facility, which is expected to be connected to the existing terminal buildings by bus service, will, when ready, offer up to 50 check-in counters, 8 air bridges for aircraft to dock – including meeting the specifications to serve the giant A 380 – and a further up to 45 aircraft parking stands on the linked apron space, also due to be constructed
alongside the terminal, plus links to existing and new taxiways and an additional runway. When opened way back in 1978, JKIA was to cater to a maximum of 2.5 million passengers. Statistics however show that this has now been exceeded by more than twice with the terminal serving over 6.2 million passengers annually. The country’s tourism industry has highlighted the constraints of JKIA and Moi International Airport in Mombasa as key elements in NOT allowing the country to reach its full potential of visitors while airlines have often voiced their equal concern over having just one runway at both airports, leading to full closures following an incident on the runway, as has happened on several occasions in the past. As a hub for national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ), adequate handling capacity is critical to the carrier’s long term expansion plan, as outlined in its 10 year strategic plan, Project Mawingu. In Project Mawingu, KQ’s current fleet of Boeing 737800s will grow to 10 by 2014/15 and to 18 by 2018/19. Its fleet of B777s will grow from 4 each to 12 each overall. Networkwise, from its current 55 destinations in 45 countries on 4 continents KQ intends to serve 115 destinations in 77 countries on all continents, all out of its Nairobi hub. Status Quo Currently, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s terminal has 3 units that cater for both arrivals and departures. Units 1 and 2 are mainly used for international flights whereas unit 3 is mainly used for domestic flights. Departing passengers check-in through units 1 and 2 depending on their destinations. Both units have airline checkin counters that operate on a Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) system and immigration desks at the ground floor where passengers are cleared before they proceed to the departure lounge in the first floor via escalators or lifts. There are eight departure gates with boarding bridges. Arriving international passengers enter via the same gates into a concourse which leads to immigration counters at the first floor before coming to the baggage hall situated in the ground floor. Currently there is only one runway (06/24) which is 4’117m (13,507ft) paved in asphalt and ILS (Instrument Landing System) equipped. The current runway is
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FEATURE sufficient to accommodate over 80’000 landings and take-offs a year but at the moment the number is only 60’000. The Expansion The expansion project was divided into three phases to avoid disrupting the airport’s operations. In subsequent phases the airport is set to have a new parking lot to accommodate 1’500 cars, airfield lighting and apron flood lights. The first phase of the project involved a taxiway, apron construction, civil works for the new terminal building, extension of the fuel hydrant system and fencing and was started in September 2006 and completed in mid-2008. It was originally expected to be complete by 2007, but delays due to rains, shortage of cement and delivery of equipment set the project back. The second phase, which started in mid-2008, includes the construction of Terminal 4 and a car parking facility that can accommodate 1,500 cars. In the third phase, Terminals 1 and 2 and the international arrivals complex will be renovated. The new mega terminal will also be added bringing the airport’s carrying capacity to over 8million passengers/year. Terminal 4 In October 2005, the Kenya Airports Authority announced the final plans for the expansion of JKIA. The new Terminal
4 building will double the current size of JKIA from 25,662m² to 55,222m² and will have a capacity of 20million passengers per year. The new terminal will handle oneway peak hour traffic of 1,500 passengers. Aircraft parking, which has been a major problem in the past, will be improved by an increase in apron space from 23 parking stands at 200,000m² to 43 aircraft stands at 300,000m², with additional taxiways to be constructed. There will be 32 contact and 8 remote gates and even a Railway terminal is planned in future. Th e a r r i v a l s a n d d e p a r t u r e s sections are now to be totally separated for increased security (a precondition for future US-bound flights) through the construction of an additional floor which will add another 23,500m² of floor space. The departures section will have 50 international and 10 domestic check-in counters with existing waiting areas to be renovated. An extended apron from terminal 4 to the new cargo village will increase its capacity handling from three to eight wide-bodied aircraft simultaneously. Greenfield Terminal Architectural design for the Greenfield Terminal was awarded to M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc., referred to as Gensler, an American design and architecture firm. Construction of the US$
654 million (Kshs 55 billion) Greenfield terminal could start in November 2013. Costs & Finances Greenfield Terminal Complex • Tender awarded to Chinese firm Anhui Construction • Construction expected to begin in November 2013 and be completed in 2017 • The entire Project Greenfield is slated to cost USD640million. Terminal Four • Construction started in August 2010. • Completion expected in August 2013 • To t a l c o s t U S D 1 1 0 m i l l i o n (KSh9.3 billion) with World Bank contributing USD14million. Second runway • Design started in August 2012. • Construction set to start in August 2013. • Expected cost USD150million (KSh12.7 billion) Renovation of Terminals 1, 2 and 3 • Phase III will cost USD92 million. Under this phase, Terminals 1 and 2 and the international arrivals complex will be renovated. • Detailed design in progress • Work to begin after terminal 4 is completed Phase II was financed by the KAA at a total cost of USD40.2 million. In addition, European Investment Bank and Agence Francaise de Developpment will provide USD186million t o wa r d s t h e e x p a n s i o n o f a i r p o r t . Consultants & Architects I n 2 0 0 4 , a C a n a d i a n - Ke n ya n consortium led by Queen’s Quay Architects International Inc (Q2) and including Mueller International Inc (Sypher) won the consulting contract for the renovation and forecasted expansion requirements for JKIA. The JKIA consulting team also includes Kenyan architects and engineers Mruttu Salmann & Associates, Chal Consult, Muambi Associates, Otieno Odongo & Partners, WestConsult, M&E Consulting Engineers, and Lariak Landscapes.
• An artistic impression of JKIA
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FEATURE
The EAC moves to deploy broadband network EACO in a quest to making broadband work for Socio-economic growth in Africa
T
he East African Communications Organisation (EACO) Congress and Exhibition took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 24th -28th June, 2013 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).The 20th EACO Congress and Exhibition dubbed “Making Broadband work for Socio-Economic Growth in Africa” was hosted by EACO and Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK). It brought together Regulators and Operators of Broadcasting, Postal and Telecommunications/ICT services from the East African region. The congress creates a link between the decisions and resolutions that EACO members make behind closed doors and tangible steps in policy adoption and implementation. Such forums are crucial in identifying key areas of intervention in order to realize the dream of universal access to communication services. This year marked EACO’s debut exhibition set to provide a platform for creating networks and sharing knowledge with the ICT fraternity in the East African region. Additionally, it presented a convergence point for the ICT sector to display the socio-economic benefits that the sector provides to East Africans. This edition not only featured the sectors leaders from both the private and public entities but also, those from the non-profit making organizations. The exhibition took place in conjunction with the Congress that created an opportunity to network with key players from local and international technology companies, manufacturers, operators, government officials, content and applications providers, and major media players. On the 27th, the Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology Dr. Fred Matiang’i, opened the exhibition. Speaking at the event, he accentuated on the need for the East African countries to enhance copyright registration to avoid innovations being stolen by other countries. Among the key things listed as critical for East Africa’s growth were investment in the development of relevant local content in native languages, transition
• Martin Mutiiria, WIOCC’s Director of Africa Sales, explaining a chart to ICT Cabinet Sec. Dr. Fred Matiang’i at The EACO congress and Exhibition, 2013
to digital TV broadcasting and that of establishing cyber security mechanisms. There were 37 exhibitors who participated in the event. Dr. Matiang’i visited different stands and lauded the Tanzanian Parliament computer tracking innovation. He also urged the EACO member states to share innovations to enable the region progress and develop broader networks. “This will help improve livelihoods within the region,” he said. The Cabinet Secretary recommended that EACO and CCK strengthen the research component of ICT and share research findings by inviting research-based institutions to such forums. This he said will help in development of new ideas. Dr. Matiang’i noted that to impel innovation, funding is a requirement and asked sponsors amid other stakeholders to chip in. To enable the East African region utilize broadband, Dr. Matiang’i said it is necessary for the service providers to deliver their services in local languages. “The creation of local content, presents opportunities for our people to leverage on ICTs for efficient production in their various activities; thus participating in wealth creation and poverty alleviation,” said Dr. Matiang’i. Although the region is home to some remarkable innovative applications such as those, linking farmers to markets, sources of farm inputs and expertise; with additional
ones under production, the content needs to be available in local languages to enhance demand for ICT and boost penetration. “With the integration of ICT into everyday life, technology has since earned elevation to a basic human right status, becoming one of the key determinants of whether individuals and communities are informationrich or information-poor,” he said. According to Dr. Matiang’i, a corelation between information access and extreme poverty exists evident by the poverty in Africa. “Bridging the digital divide, therefore, is crucial to our success in the fight against disease, ignorance and poverty in the region,” he asserted. “We should also sensitize those in the lower ranks of leadership on the importance of investing in broadband and the knowledge as it will help transform their lives tremendously,” he said. “This will ensure that information reaches those at the grassroots,” he added. The Minister for ICT in Uganda, Nyombi Thembo, asked telecommunication providers to review the regions roaming tariffs citing high cost which he described as a hindrance to communication. With reference to the conference theme Mr. Thembo said the subject was appropriate as the region is at a point where it is experiencing growth in broadband
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FEATURE use and connectivity. In addition, he requested broadcasters and regulators in the region to work in unison to make the broadband connectivity affordable. EACO has helped regional Governments develop enabling policy and regulatory interventions to spur ICT development owing to a strong partnership between the public and private sector. This is continually being looked upon to help deliver improved ICT services in a secure environment. CCK’s Director General, Francis Wangusi said that the EACO partnership has led to the continuous growth of ICT in the regions member states. ICT is a key driver of the economies. “Uptake in ICT has stimulated the uptake of services, as is evident in the Kenyan government adoption of e-government service delivery in various ministries like that of Education and the immigration & Registration of Persons. It is not done yet and we still have great potential of connecting all parts of the country on the backdrop of a devolved government,” added Mr.Wangusi. Currently, fiber subscribers stand at 54,400, while satellite services users’ stand at 684, with 99 percent of the total internet subscriptions being from mobile data subscription; leading to an unprecedented growth of internet in Kenya. “To derive the benefits that come with being on-line, governments in the region also need to intensify efforts towards improving the overall security within the communications environment, including cyber-security, said Mr. Wangusi. “This will not only enhance e-commerce and mobile transactions but also create the confidence to grow inter-country transactions,” he added. Already most governments, Kenya included, are at various stages of setting up their Computer Incidence Response Teams (CIRTs) with a number of them having implemented SIM card registration as a step to enhancing security and curbing mobile phone related fraud. Mr. Wangusi emphasized the role that ICT plays in economic growth, saying, technological progress and innovations have taken centre-stage as long-term drivers of economic growth especially
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in developing countries. “ICTs are now being deployed to facilitate better delivery of services in health, education and governance, among other areas,” he added. As part of the Conference, there was a workshop held that featured presentations made by representatives from various firms and Regulatory bodies. This included Qualcomm, Ericsson, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), CCK, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA), Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Agency for Control and Regulation of Telecommunications (ACRT) of Burundi, Safaricom, Airtel, Smile- Tanzania, MTN and Burundi Backbone System (BBS). The Marketing Director, Ericsson, M r. D av i d O c h a n d a
• An Exhibitor at the EACO Congress and Exhibition, 2013
making a presentation on Mobile Broadband Infrastructure Deployment, asserted that sharing of infrastructure among EACO member states is a key pillar in improving broadband penetration. He added that a harmonized spectrum would ensure that the same user experienced is achieved. Marcelino Tayob from ITU while making a presentation on the impact of Broadband on economic growth, showed an analysis projecting that every 10% broadband penetration moves the GDP by 1%. On the 28th, the Deputy President, Hon. William Ruto opened the congress that marked the climax of the forum. He noted that with high innovation and new technologies taking root, mobile telephone users in East African region require such services hence the need to reduce
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tariffs to make them affordable to many. “We need to address the infrastructure, cost of deployment and access so that more people can be able to access this service at lower cost. With high and multiplicity of innovation, mobile telephone users require these services at highly reduced tariffs,” he said. These sentiments echoed Mr. Ochanda’s input. Th e d e p u t y p r e s i d e n t a l s o underscored the need for a clear broadband framework for both Kenya and the region at large saying, “Broadband is recognized for its high correlation with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. It has high impact on productivity of nations,” he said. This shed more light to the statistics given earlier by Mr. Tayob. “With digital migration we will have more efficient use of frequencies. This therefore necessitates the adherence to the global deadline of 2015,” stated the Deputy President. He expressed concern that it was expensive to access large volumes of data adding that it was prudent for service providers to find ways of lowering the cost; he shared the same sentiments with Mr. Tembo. “The ICT industry should catalyze the development of other sectors given the explosion of internet use,” he said. He was of the opinion that, by vigorously embracing ICT, Africa will be able to enhance its capacity as well as secure a favourable share in the ever competitive global trade. Spurred by the cause of the Congress and Exhibition, In July, the Kenyan Government launched the National Broadband Strategy (NBS) aimed at transforming Kenya into a knowledgebased economy. This makes Kenya the second nation in Africa after South Africa, to launch an elaborate broadband strategy. The strategy proposes a Ksh250 billion budget to fund the development of the broadband infrastructure, supporting national capacity building, awareness, content development and innovations. The proposed finance sources include innovative financial instruments for instance: launching a Broadband Infrastructure Bond, a Broadband Venture Capital Fund as well as exploiting existing instruments such as the Growth Enterprise Market available within the Capital Markets plus increased government spending on ICT of up to 5 percent.
Readers Contribution
Kenya’s Power Sub-sector under New Constitution in the Lead Up to 2030
by Eng. David Munene Mwangi
Introduction he policy of the power sub-sector is currently anchored on the Sessional Paper No. 4 of 2004 on Energy and the policy is given legal effect by the Energy Act, 2006. The Act provides the legal, regulatory and institutional framework of the power sub-sector. To align the energy policy and law with the new Constitution promulgated in 2010 and the Vision 2030, adopted and launched in 2008, Sessional Paper No. 4 of 2004 and the Energy Act, 2006 are at an advanced stage of review. This article discusses some of the measures being taken or proposed by the power sub-sector to meet the requirements of the Constitution and the Vision.
T
Current Power Sub-Sector Structure Kenyan Power and Lighting Company (KPLC, Kenya Power) and Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KenGen), public companies incorporated under the Companies Act and listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, operate with policy guidance from the Ministry of Energy (now Ministry of Energy & Petroleum) as well as the Ministry of Finance (National Treasury) under the State Corporations Act. Regulatory affairs are dealt with by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) under the Energy Act, and by the Capital Markets Authority under the Capital Markets Act. Government owns 70% of KenGen shares and 50.1% of Kenya Power’s. Kenya Power, the single buyer in the Kenyan power market, purchases electricity in bulk from KenGen: six IPPs, Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) at 132kV and from the Ethiopia Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO) at 33kV at border town of Moyale. It also buys power from Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) at 33kV at Lunga Lunga and sells power to Tanesco at 33kV at Namanga. KPLC has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with EEPCO for purchase of 400MW through a 500kV HVDC interconnector from Sodo in Ethiopia to Suswa in Kenya by 2017/18. KPLC has also entered into a Mutual Cooperation and Provision of
• Olkaria II 105 MW Geothermal Power Station
Services Agreement with Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) and a Service Level Agreement with Rural Electrification Authority (REA). Other key players in the sub-sector include Geothermal Development Company (GDC), which develops geothermal steam fields for conversion into electricity by generation companies, and Energy Tribunal, with mandate for resolution of disputes in the energy sector arising from ERC decisions. GDC, ERC, Energy Tribunal, KETRACO and REA were incorporated under the Energy
Act, 2006 and are 100% state owned. A more recent entity is the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board, a Government agency established by the Minister for Energy initially as the Nuclear Electricity Project Committee through Gazette Notice 14188 of 19th November 2010 to spearhead and fast-track the development of nuclear energy for electricity generation in Kenya. The current structure of the power subsector is depicted in Figure 1.
Fig. 1
Current Power Sub-Sector Structure
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
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Readers Contribution
Current and Projected Power Generation Capacity Mix Kenya’s total installed capacity is 1,727 MW (including 19 MW off-grid and 120 MW of emergency capacities). The latest capacity addition is 36MW of geothermal plant commissioned earlier in 2013 by an IPP, OrPower4, which had 52MW before. The maximum peak demand is 1,347MW, recorded in May 2013. This demand is suppressed and real demand is estimated to be about 100MW higher. There are about 2 million customers of electricity countrywide. Generation and transmission expansion planning is guided by a rolling 20-year least cost power development plan (LCPDP), prepared by ERC in collaboration with other key stakeholders. The LCPDP is updated every two years but its 5 years is reviewed annually. The latest approved plan covers 2011-2031 but the update to 2013-2033 is in progress. “Least Cost Plan” does not mean the plan with the lowest investment cost, but that with the lowest present value of total system costs over the 20 years horizon; comprising cost of: capital investment,
Techcnology/Fuel
fuel, fuel inventory, non-fuel operation and maintenance and of energy not served, less the salvage value of plants. In the preparation of power and energy demand forecasts for the LCPDP 20112031, the following Vision 2030 flagship projects, with total non-coincidental power demand estimated at 876 MW, were taken into account: i. ICT Park (2012-2015, 440MW); ii. Second container terminal and a free port at the Mombasa port (2014, 2 MW); iii. Standard gauge Juba-Lamu railway (2014, 9 MW); iv. Lamu port including resort cities (2014, 4 MW); v. Special economic zones (2015, 50 MW); vi. Iron and steel smelting industry in Meru area (2015-2021, 315 MW); vii. Standard gauge railway (Mombasa- Nairobi-Malaba, Kisumu) (2017, 18 MW); viii. Light rail for Nairobi and suburbs (2017, 8 MW); and ix. Resort cities (Isiolo, Kilifi and Ukunda) (2017, 30 MW).
Existing
Table 1 gives the current effective generation capacity mix and projections for 2015, 2020 and 2030. The numbers for 2015 are based on committed projects while those for 2020 and 2030 are extracted from the LCPDP 2011-2031. Peak demand for 2013 is the estimated unsuppressed demand and demands of the later years are from the LCPDP. As can be observed from the table, the plan is to increase capacity reserve margin from around 16-17% to 28% by 2030 and increase the proportion of the more dependable renewable energy, especially geothermal, while also adding significant capacity of lower-cost conventional thermal power as well as nuclear. “See Table 1 below “ Power imports from Ethiopia will be facilitated by the commissioning of the Ethiopia-Kenya 500kV HVDC interconnector by 2017/18, by when the Uganda-Kenya 220kV and Kenya-Tanzania 400kV interconnectors should also be in service. By 2020, the Tanzania-Zambia 400kV is also likely to be in place, thereby linking the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
Committed + Projected by LCPDP 2011-31
Effective 2013
2013
2015
% Share
2015
2020
% Share
2020
2030
% Share
2030 % Share
Hydro
770
45.6%
819
1.9%
1,039
16.0%
1,039
5.4%
Geothermal
245
14.5%
786
26.1%
1,728
26.6%
5,110
26.6%
5.1
0.3%
536
46.6%
735
11.3%
2,036
10.6%
Wind Cogeneration - biomass Sub-Total Renewable
26
1.5%
44
1.6%
44
0.7%
18
0.1%
1,046
62.0%
2,185
76.2%
3,546
54.6%
8,203
42.6%
463
27.4%
713
22.0%
969
14.9%
1,635
8.5%
60
3.6% 0.0%
360
5.5%
1,980
10.3%
20
1.8%
620
9.5%
2,420
12.6%
733
23.8%
1,949
30.0%
6,035
31.4%
3,000
15.6%
2,000
10.4%
19,238
100.0%
Medium Speed Diesel (HFO/Natural gas) Gas Turbine - Kerosene Gas Turbine - Natural Gas Coal High Speed Diesel (AGO) - Emergency
120
7.1%
Sub-Total Conventional Thermal
643
38.0%
Nuclear Import (Mainly Ethiopia Hydro)
1,000
TOTAL
1,689
Projected Peak Demand (MW)
1,447
2,511
4,755
25,026
16.7%
16.2%
36.6%
28.0
Reserve Margin
100.0%
2,197
100.0%
6,495
100.0%
Table 1. Current and Projected Kenya Interconnected Power Generation Capacity Mix (MW)
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KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
Readers Contribution
Effect of Projected Generation Mix on Power Tariffs An analysis of Kenya Power average tariffs over the last 4 years (2008/09 to 2011/12) since retail tariffs were last reviewed in July 2008 shows that the proportion of non-fuel tariff ranged from 56.2% to 64.6%, while that of fuel cost was 35.4% to 43.8%, as shown in Table 2. As more generation capacity is added to the power system, the requirement for capacity and energy charges should raise the non-fuel tariff. However, the ensuing generation mix will result in significant reduction of the fuel cost. Indeed after 2015 the total tariff should be on a downward trend even as non-fuel tariff will of necessity be increasing. This is a point that power consumers and Government need to understand to appreciate that Kenya Power can increase its base tariffs, as it needs to do in the absence of a Government subsidy, without increasing the overall tariffs, or with Techcnology/Fuel
4.
5.
6.
7.
Electricity Project Committee into a Nuclear Electricity Corporation to promote and implement a nuclear electricity generation programme; Facilitating open access to transmission and distribution networks, designating a system operator and encouraging regional interconnections to enhance regional electricity trade; Establishment of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (EECA) as a fully-fledged national public entity to promote energy efficiency and conservation; County governments to set aside suitable land for energy infrastructure development purposes, including but not limited to projects recommended in the indicative national energy plans; National Government to facilitate: a) Development of a Resettlement
2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Total Price per unit (Kshs/kWh)
8.03
12.58
12.33
12.65
15.97
Non - Fuel
4.79
7.13
7.48
8.17
8.97
3.23
5.46
4.85
4.48
6.99
Non-Fuel Price as % of Total Price
Fuel
59.7%
56.6%
60.7%
64.6%
56.2%
Fuel cost as % of Total Price
40.3%
43.4%
39.3%
35.4%
43.8%
Table 1. Make-up of KPLC Electricity Prices per kWh for 2007/08-2011/12
a concurrent decrease of the overall tariff. Anticipated Reforms and other Changes in the Power Sub-sector According to the draft new policy document as well as the draft Energy Bill 2012, the following reforms and/or changes, among others, are proposed in the power subsector: 1. Establishment of an inter-ministerial Renewable Energy Resources Advisory Committee (RERAC) to advise the Cabinet Secretary on various aspects of geothermal, hydro and other renewable energy resources; 2. Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e R u r a l Electrification Authority into the National Electrification and Renewable Energy Authority (NERA) to be the lead agency for developing renewable energy resources other than geothermal and large hydros; 3. Transformation of the Nuclear
A c t i o n P l a n Fra m e wo r k f o r energy related projects including livelihood restoration in the event of physical displacement of communities; b) Access to land where exploration blocks fall on private land, community land and cultural Heritage areas including game parks/reserves; 8. National Government to: a) Put in place mechanisms to eliminate kerosene as a household energy source by 2022; b) Ensure the creation of disaster response units in each county and in relevant energy sector entities; 9. National Government to set up a Consolidated Energy Fund to cater for funding of the proposed National Energy Institute; acquisition of strategic petroleum reserves; e n e r g y s e c t o r e nv i r o n m e n t a l disaster mitigation, response and
recovery; hydro risk mitigation; water towers conservation programmes; energy efficiency and conservation p r o g ra m m e s a n d p r o m o t i o n o f renewable energy; 10. National Government to clarify assets ownership between NERA and KPLC; and 11. National Government to provide the criteria for accessing funds for electrification of marginalized areas from the Equalization Fund under Article 204 of the Constitution. Roles of County Governments According to the draft revised energy policy, a framework on the functional devolution of roles between the national and county governments will be developed in consultation with all stakeholders to avoid uncertainty/overlap of responsibilities. Amongst the roles to be addressed in the framework are: i. Licensing of County Governments to provide distribution and reticulation services; ii. Establishment of energy disaster management centres in all the counties; and iii. F o r m u l a t i o n o f c o o p e r a t i o n arrangements between National Electrification and Renewable Energy Authority (currently REA) and County Governments for implementation of rural electrification programmes. Licensing shall primarily be undertaken by the National Government but some of the licensing services will be systematically devolved to the County governments. NERA shall continue to implement crosscounty rural electrification connections and to spearhead the expansion of rural electrification connectivity to at least 60% by 2022 and 100% by 2030. The County Governments may plan and develop reticulation (retail) services in line with national policy so that there is only one distributor in a given area at any particular time for efficiency and technical effectiveness of the national power network.
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
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Readers Contribution
Insight to Kenya’s walk to digitilization The fiber optic infrastructure
by Sally Musonye
• Landing of the fiber optic cables
W
ith the deployment of the undersea cable, technology has taken great strides not only in our country but major developments are evident around the world today. The optical network in Kenya has seen tremendous growth in terms of infrastructure development. The government has embraced technology and deployed fiber networks upto the county level with the NOFBI (National Optical Fiber Backbone Infrastructure) project whose main aim is to enhance communication and coordination of the resources within the counties. This is no mean fete as it provides an opportunity and avenue for growth, development and self-sustainability especially with efforts towards achievement of Vision 2030. Most communication has been facilitated through copper cables, satellite and microwave links. These could only support a few Giga bits per second but were also greatly affected by climatic conditions such as fog, rain etc. There was also interference
35
with other microwave systems and earth stations thus making communication highly ineffective during adverse conditions. On the upper hand, the links have a lower installation cost and easier to deploy. Among the known downturns when using copper cables is vandalism that causes huge losses to the telecommunication companies. Due to increase in demand for coverage, optical fiber networks were deployed. A single copper pair may have up to six simultaneous phone calls while a single fiber pair is capable of carrying over 10 million simultaneous phone calls for 64 channels at 10Gb/s. Optical fiber has an almost limitless capacity With some of the undersea cables designed to have a capacity of 2.56 Tb/s, offering wider coverage and also increasing the data rates. There is no interference of the signal and is not affected by climatic conditions.
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
However, fiber networks require a high cost of installation and may take longer to deploy. That notwithstanding, they offer the lowest latency of all transmission media. This improves on the quality of service provided over fiber links. The latency level is critical for high frequency trading which is measured in microseconds. Low latency requires more bandwidth which is available through fiber thus enhancing market competitiveness which is a key factor towards economic stimulus. Inside the fiber The optical fiber has three major sections: Core, Cladding and Coating. The core carries the light signals and is mostly made of silica and a dopant to raise the refractive index of the medium. The cladding keeps light in the core and is made of pure silica while the coating is made of glass and acrylate. Light waves are directed and guided down the optic fiber striking the interface at angles greater than the critical angle and each of
Readers Contribution
these surfaces have a different refractive index with the core having a refractive index greater than the cladding. This allows for total internal reflection and effective transmission along the fiber with no losses across the walls of the fiber. Fiber types The various types of fiber are single mode or multi-mode. Single mode is used for long distance networks in high data rate applications. These experience minimum attenuation and dispersion but have more expensive transceivers. The multi-mode is used for medium and high information capacity in short and medium lengths with a larger core than the single mode allowing for easier connection and coupling. The bit rates are evolving from STM1 which has a capacity of 155 Mb/s to 100Gb/s with the market penetration at 10 Gb/s ( STM 64) – 40Gb/s. The three major providers of fiber in Kenya
are SEACOM, EASSy (The East African Submarine cable System) and TEAMs (The East African Marine systems). These were initiated with capacities of 1.28 Tb/s, 3.84 Tb/s and 1.2 Tb/s respectively. Currently, we have an active capacity of 100Gb/s deployed within the country. This arguably makes Kenya lead the race of the future in a digital revolution especially in East Africa. With the present deployment of Fiber To The Building (FTTB) in the country. It is our anticipation that the government will fast track the infrastructure layout and upgrade to Fiber To The Home (FTTH) also at the county level. This would help us have a competitive footing with some of the countries such as Nigeria as more people are able to gain access to faster networks. The role of fiber Fiber is not only used in telecommunications but plays a major role in e-Governance, e-Tourism, e-Education, e-Commerce and e-Lifestyle but to mention just a few. In view of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the development
of Africa’s Silicon savannah, this could not have come at a better time than this. In the recent past, the digitization of the systems at the County Council of Nairobi brought a lease of life to architects, surveyors, engineers and planners as they are able to submit their designs online for approval. The main aim of this venture is to curb on unqualified individuals offering sub-standard designs and services. Technological advancement is thus not an optional luxury but is central to the 21st century development, education and economic growth. This can well be attested to with some of the tech names as Google, Microsoft and IBM setting base in Kenya and establishing research labs to enhance innovation. This has helped to rank Kenya as the most developed country in Eastern Africa and the fourth best in Africa. With the increasing demand for internet services and the global digitization, Kenya is best placed if it expands the skills, access and usage of the digital services. The development of the smart cities within Kenya such as Konza and Tatu puts us at a competitive edge in realizing growth and GDP targets since technological advancement is the sure way to go. If we are able to increase the capacity of the fiber network with the trending advancement to packet communication, the ICT hubs at the tech cities will be the target to attain by many. This will be of importance to Kenya’s economic growth by improving the literacy level and a reduction in poverty levels. Imagine the whole population of the earth on the phone on a single fiber at the same time, the billion dollar question that we all ask ourselves is: “Is technology the answer to the economic doldrums in Kenya?”
The optical fiber has three major sections: Core, Cladding and Coating KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
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Readers Contribution
The Emerging Kenyan Innovation System and the Future of Engineering Education
by Meoli Kashorda
Introduction n January 2013, the Kenyan parliament passed the Science Technology and Innovation Act 2013 or ST&I Act 2013 [1]. This is the first Act of Parliament that has created the governance structure for the Kenyan Innovation System. Although the ST&I Act 2013 did not appear to address engineering issues specifically, it is not possible to implement the Act and the associated innovation system without the participation of engineers and the introduction of reforms in engineering education in Kenyan universities and technical colleges
I
22 public universities have already been chartered (15 additional public universities established in March 2013). The Act also created two other institutions that are yet to be established: a. The Universities Fund that will be the new vehicle for financing universities and will take into account the degree programs offered (e.g., higher funding for expensive engineering degree programs). This body will be responsible for upgrading the public universities learning and research infrastructures (e.g., laboratories for engineering education). It will also
• A University graduate
as defined in the Universities Act of 2012 [2] and the TVET Act 2013 [3]. The ST& I Act 2013 was one of the three Acts of Parliament that were prepared by the then Ministry of Higher Education, S c i e n c e a n d Te ch n o l o g y i n p e r i o d about one year from September 2011 to September 2012 under the leadership of Eng. Professor David Some, now the CEO of the Commission of University Education . The Universities Act 2012 aims to reform university education in Kenya and is the one that created the Commission for Universities Education that will regulate all universities, both private and public. Under the Act,
37
establish clear criteria for funding and monitor implementation of capital projects among other functions. b. Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service that will replace the Joint Admission Board that will admit all students receiving government loans or bursaries and ensure alignment with the constitution of Kenya in terms of promoting participation by all marginalized groups. The TVET Act 2013 aims to reform and regulate the Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Kenya. Once
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
fully implemented, the three Acts of Parliament ensure that Kenya can pursue the Vision 2030 whose foundation is Science, Technology and Innovation. Th e s e t h r e e A c t s w i l l e n h a n c e t h e science and engineering education components the innovation system and also create the necessary governance structures as explained in this article. Innovation and how it is measured Innovation is probably an overused term – in business, education, government, technology and even in policy documents. Kenya is now globally recognized for innovation in ICT and mobile banking because of the MPESA service, considered a Kenyan innovation by most Kenyans. Unfortunately, the MPESA patent is owned by Vodafone (UK) Limited and Safaricom has to pay for royalties for using it. One of the best definitions of innovation is that by management guru Peter Drucker “Change that creates a new dimension of performance”. It is important to distinguish between creativity and innovation - creativity is coming up with new ideas while innovation is putting those ideas to work and creating a benefit[4]. Since innovation is based on putting new ideas to work, it is necessary to have a process of generating new ideas through an education system and a Research and Development (R & D) environment. For example, the World Economic Forum Global Competitive Report series measures innovation in terms of business sophistication indicators (50% of the weight) and Research and Development (R&D) indicators like patents, quality of research institutes and availability of scientists and engineers (50% of the weight). The Global Competitiveness Report 2013 ranked Kenya at position 66 out 144 economies of the worlds that were measured comparable to South Africa at position 50. This is way ahead of the neighboring countries of Tanzania (92), Uganda (101), and Ethiopia (125) or even Ghana at position
Readers Contribution
• An exploded CAD model
102. Kenya is therefore surprisingly almost like a middle-income country in terms of innovation ranking although overall Global Competiveness ranking at position 106 out of 144 economies [5]. The ST&I Act of 2013 emphasized the Research and Development (R & D) indicators of innovation rather than the business and social indicators. In fact, the Act defines innovation mainly in terms of technovation model or novel products and processes. However, since ideas from R&D are often put into practice by businesses or society, the Act does also recognize business and social innovations. Every country does have a national innovation system that puts ideas to work for benefit of society or business, or government. The Proposed Kenyan Innovation System The Taskforce on Alignment of Higher Education Science and Technology
to the Constitution developed a Science Technology and Innovation Policy that was the basis for the new ST&I Act 2013. The education and research system of Kenya plays a critical role there is need for linkages with the business system. ST&I Act 2013 created the governance system that includes the funding system which has been a challenge in Kenya. The National Research Fund and Kenya Innovation Agency are new institutions that will be created by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Education, Science and Technology. The ST&I demand consists of the consumers and producers. An innovation system must make certain assumptions about the ST&I demand. For example, if the demand is for innovations that solve the socio-economic problems in Kenya and Africa, that will influence the funding of ideas by NRF and the focus of the
• A 3D Model
education systems. The developed countries and multinational companies often define global demand for their innovations. The government of Kenya and the Kenyan universities and technical colleges need to articulate the demand side of the innovation system. In the opinion of the author, this is a vague area. For example, the Kenya ICT Board has in the past five years focused on attracting multinational companies to establish operations and research hubs in Kenya. The idea is then to create a local innovation culture or even to adapt innovations in developed countries to the Kenyan and African market. The ST&I infrastructure consists of Financial sector (include venture capitalists and angel investors), the legal environment for protecting innovations and ideas, and innovation support systems. Some components of this infrastructure exist in Kenya. However, the financial system required for supporting innovations is considered weak with very few venture capital firms. It is possible the government, through the NRF will improve the financial system for innovations. There a few incubators that are mainly focusing on ICT businesses that are being established in Kenya and most are university-based and on a very small scale. There is a need to scale up incubation centers and science parks in order to support complex innovations.
“Article to be continued in November/December Issue” KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
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Readers Contribution
Qualitative Assessment of Rain Water Harvested from Roof Top Catchments: Case Study of Embakasi, Nairobi County by Joanne N. Gakungu Abstract ain Water Harvesting (RWH), in its broadest sense, is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater for human use from rooftops, land surfaces or rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and pots as well as engineered techniques (Najmi 2008). A study was carried out with the aim of assessing the quality of harvested roof-top rainwater from three different roofing materials in Embakasi area in Nairobi County. The roofing materials are corrugated iron sheets, clay tiles and concrete tiles. Chemical analysis included testing for iron, copper, zinc, fluoride, aluminium, lead, zinc, manganese, sodium and potassium. Physical analysis of pH and turbidity was carried out as well as bacteriological analysis for Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and total coliform. All the rainwater samples results for the samples taken after first run-off, were within the guidelines for both chemical and microbiological parameters established by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2003). On the contrary, turbidity levels were higher than the maximum allowable concentration for drinking purposes hence the need to allow the first run –off during any rainfall event. As revealed from the analysis, all the samples require some level of treatment e.g. chlorination in order to ensure they meet regulatory standards for drinking water. However all water samples are quite safe for all other domestic uses including laundry, toilet flushing, bathing and other general cleaning. The integrated management must consist of regular cleaning of the catchment areas and the storage tanks and the employment of automated mechanical systems for discarding the first portion of each rainfall. The use of clay roofing tiles is preferable but due to cost, corrugated iron sheets maybe adopted.
R
Introduction Water quality degradation, soil erosion, deforestation and urbanization greatly compromise the quality and availability of surface and groundwater resources hence threatening sources of
39
potable water supply .The problem of water scarcity is strongly connected to the problem of water quality. Surface and ground water resources in Kenya are increasingly becoming polluted from sources caused by the activities of agriculture, urbanization, industry, leachate from mining and garbage dumps, sediments, salts, eutrophication of lakes, infiltration of fertilizer and pesticide residues, all of which increase catchment degradation. Lack of effective pollution control compromises the quality of water, posing potential health hazards, increasing treatment and maintenance costs, and affecting inland,
from the atmosphere. Rain water could dissolve gases and wash off chemicals from contacting dust particles and roof materials. It could dissolve the metals or derived chemicals. Elution of chemicals from the walls is also possible from the storage tank.Heavy metals such as iron, aluminium and zinc have been detected in rooftop-harvested rainwater although several additional studies in other countries have examined the effect of roofing material on harvested rainwater quality, domestic studies of the effect of roofing material on harvested rainwater quality might be more useful because roofing materials, coatings, and building practices vary globally. Materials & Methods Description of the Study Area Embakasi is considered part of Nairobi’s Eastlands area, lying 15km to the south-east of Nairobi province. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the main airport of Nairobi is located in Embakasi. Embakasi Division is divided into following locations: Dandora, Embakasi, Kariobangi South, Kayole, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Njiru, Ruai and Umoja. As a residential estate it houses mostly middle to lower income citizens. Most of the residential houses are four to eight- storey flats.
estuarine and coastal aquatic ecosystems. Rainwater harvesting, in its broadest sense, is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater for human use from rooftops, land surfaces or rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and pots as well as engineered techniques (Najmi 2008). A typical rainwater harvesting model comprises of components for transporting rainwater through pipes or drains, filtration, and tanks for storage of harvested water. Even though such a solution seems to be so attractive from an ecological point of view, potential health risks from ingestion of harvested rainwater related to microbiological and chemical contaminants should be taken into account. Contamination by chemical pollutants may arise from a variety of materials with which the rain water comes into contact starting
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
Sampling To compare rainwater contamination in different locations, rain water samples were collected in four sampling sites (see Figure 1) namely Fedha Estate, Tassia Estate, Nyayo Estate and Baraka Estate. These locations were chosen as they represent a sample of high density residential areas within Embakasi area. Harvested rain water samples were collected via roof-top run made of three selected roofing sheet materials namely corrugated iron sheets, clay tiles and concrete tiles. The samples were analyzed for physical, chemical and bacteriological content using standard methods for water examination at the NCWSC Kabete Laboratories. Samples were collected during the months of April and May, 2013 during the long season of rains.
Readers Contribution Results and Discussions Chemical Analysis Chemical analysis was conducted by the NCWSC according to the standard methods for the examination of water by the Kenya Standards for Drinking Water – KS459-2007, American Public Association, American Water Works Association and the Water Pollution Federation. The corrugated iron sheets samples had higher average total iron and zinc concentrations than the other two roofing materials. The source of this iron and zinc may be the corrugated iron sheets itself and atmospheric deposition. The corrugated iron sheets samples also had higher average total aluminium concentrations than the other two roofing materials. Given that corrugated iron sheets are composed of zinc and iron, it may be that the aluminium levels found in this study originated in atmospheric dust and dry deposition. None of the roofing materials were significantly different from each other when analysis of the fluoride and manganese levels was done. This suggests that roofing materials were unlikely to be the source of fluoride and manganese deposition. Potassium and sodium levels were lowest in clay tiles possibly as result of its porous nature, these metals were trapped in the clay tiles. Lead and copper were not detected in any of the roofing materials. The results of the chemical analysis are shown in table 2.
“See Table 2.“
Bacteriological and Physical Analysis Bacteriological and physical analysis was conducted by the NCWSC according to the same standard methods for the examination of water highlighted above. The samples were examined for the two widely used bacterial indicators, namely total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E coli). The average pH of the harvested rainwater from all of the three roof types was in the near-neutral range (pH 7.0 to 7.4). The pH of the samples taken from the concrete tile and clay tile roofs was higher than that from the corrugated iron sheets. The rainwater harvested from the concrete tile roof had the highest Ph level, with an average pH of 7.4, probably due to the reaction of pure rainwater (pH 4.8 to 5.9) to the alkaline components of the tiles. The WHO guideline
for non- potable urban water reuse is that the turbidity should not exceed 5 mg/L and for drinking water, the turbidity should not exceed 1mg/L. The levels found in the harvested rainwater from all the three roofs in this study exceeded 1 mg/L. This shows that all harvested rain water needs some form of disinfection by chlorine before use. However, all water samples are quite safe for all other domestic uses including laundry, toilet flushing, bathing and other general cleaning. The results of the physical and bacteriological analysis are shown in tables 2
“See Table 3 below.“ Conclusion As revealed from the analysis, all the samples require some level of treatment e.g. chlorination in order to ensure their potability considering their regulatory standards. However all water samples are quite safe for all other domestic uses including laundry, toilet flushing, bathing and other general cleaning. Safety and health measures are paramount in storage
of harvested rain water. The integrated management must consist of regular cleaning of the catchment areas and the storage tanks and the employment of automated mechanical systems for discarding the first portion of each rainfall. The quality of the rooftop-harvested rainwater generally increased with roof flushing as the rain event progressed, indicating the importance of an effective first-flush diverter. The use of clay roofing tiles is preferable but due to cost, corrugated iron sheets maybe adopted. Kenya needs to make a major paradigm shift – from focus on the extraction and distribution of water to conservation and development of the water resources. This means that the institutions/departments dealing with water resources development need to be resourced accordingly, and policies that conserve water such as rain water harvesting, water re-use and catchments protection need to be put on the forefront of national development efforts. Furthermore, the local government should launch awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of rain water harvesting.
Table 2. Sample Chemical Results after first draw (Source: NCWSC) Parameters
Results (mg/l)
WHO Guideline (mg/l)
Baraka Estate
Fedha Estate
Nyayo Estate
Tumaini Estate
(Concrete Files)
(Corrugated
(Corrugated Iron
(Clay files)
Iron Sheets)
Sheets)
Fluoride (F-)
0.81
2015
2020
2020
2030
Lead (Ph)
N/D
N/D
N/D
N/D
0.01
Zinc (Zn)
0.1052
0.3049
0.3059
0.1032
5.0 0.3
Iron (Fe)
0.0329
0.0527
0.0530
0.0324
Manganese (Mn)
0.0603
0.0604
0.0605
0.0603
0.1
Sodium
8.1
8.3
7.8
4.1
200
Potassium (k)
4.7
4.8
4.7
1.8
12
0.006
0.014
0.014
0.006
0.1
N/D
N/D
N/D
N/D
0.1
Aluminium (Al) Copper (CU)
Table 3. Sample Bacteriological and Physical Results after first draw (Source: NCWSC) Parameters
Results (mg/l)
WHO Guideline (mg/l)
Baraka Estate (Concrete Files)
Fedha Estate
Nyayo Estate
Tumaini Estate
(Corrugated
(Corrugated Iron
(Clay files)
Iron Sheets)
Sheets)
MPN of EColi
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
MPN of Coliform
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil 6.5 - 8.5
pH Colour Turbidity
7.4
7.02
7.05
7.3
4.73
2.23
2.25
4.68
<15
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.9
5 for non potable water, 1 for potable water
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
40
ESA
Repairing Infrastructure can help repair economy by Reagan Oloka •
•
• Road repair in progress
I
f you have spent much time traveling around the Kenya, you likely have noticed that our infrastructure looks a bit worn and tired and in need of some refreshing, to say the least. If however you spend much time traveling around the world, you will notice that our infrastructure is shockingly bad. So bad that it’s not an exaggeration to declare it a national disgrace, a global embarrassment and a massive security risk. Well, it is not that things were better in the past. In all honesty, things have greatly improved over time. So great that anybody who slept in 1963 and is waking up now would be in for a shocker. There has been massive improvement in infrastructure. The reason our infrastructure can be termed disgraceful is that on a comparative basis, we have done so much in the past ten years or so than we were able to in thirty years or so preceding the 21st century. Whether or not the government of the day has contributed to this is up to the political pundits. The average Kenyan road is not safetoo many accidents yearly. In Britain, prospective drivers spend hundreds of thousands of shillings to obtain driving licenses. In fact, obtaining that document is a major achievement. Perhaps that is why the pass rate at driving schools is below fifty percent for people attempting the exams for the first time. The fines for careless driving and recklessness are huge. Licenses get withheld for long periods for such offences. The result? The roads in the UK are safe and hence they don’t lose thousands of productive citizens yearly through accidents. As for Kenya, let’s just say the pass rate in driving schools exceeds 100%-that’s if we dare include those that
41
pass the driving tests without sitting them in the first place. Our airports are not yet up there. A lot of improvement is still needed. Matters are not helped by the recent fire that gutted down a section of one of the largest airports in the region-JKIA. Let us consider a few aspects of infrastructure that if improved would in a big way boost the economy, both directly and indirectly: • E l e c t r i c a l g r i d r e f u r b i s h m e n t : The electric grid is unreliable and vulnerable to blackouts. Every year companies count losses in the range of millions due to blackouts and power surges. This is not to mention losses incurred by small businesses and homes. Besides, the power generation is yet to get to a level where it is able to sustain the demands of a growing population. Kenya has the potential, what lacks is full exhaustion of the same. Sadly, only approximately 51% of Kenya’s urban population has access to electricity, and 5% of the rural population. Laughable. For the economy to grow in a bigger way, these figures have to change and the national grid has to be upgraded. • Airports: Kenya has a number of airports but we can safely say that only one, JKIA, meets international standards. There are countless tourist attractions in the country. There is oil in Northern Kenya. There are numerous mining centers. If these could have airports of international statue, there would be increased convenience as concerns access and transportation. The result would be a massively boosted economy.
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
•
Ports: The port of Mombasa is very strategically located and serves numerous countries in Africa and beyond. It however has been operating below its expected output. Through the port alone, the government is able to earn a lot of income that goes a long way in improving the economy. With the construction of the Lamu port underway, it is expected that congestion will be eased at the port of Mombasa. Just like in the case of other forms of infrastructure, efficiency is further enhanced by personnel that are effective as well. Alternative energy: Gains in the basic science of solar energy conversion, battery storage and biofuels have been incremental. The private sector does not have the patience or money for a decade-long research and development program performing research into fundamental sciences. We should be working on a very fundamental level, aiming for the kinds of scientific breakthroughs that create entire new industries. With alternative energy, the country has an assured back up in case of shortages. Besides, there is preparedness in the event that that nonrenewable sources run out of stock. Roads: There needs to be construction of more roads all over the country for faster and more efficient travel. The cities like Nairobi need to be free of the perennial nuisance of traffic jams. The country loses billions of shillings every year due to slow movement of people and goods. With better roads, accidents are bound to be few as well.
With an economy that is still below expectation, such infrastructural developments are the recipe for brighter days. Otherwise, we will be focusing our energies in the wrong sectors with the hope of improving the economy. Like Mark Zuckerberg says; There is a huge need and a huge opportunity to get everyone in the world connected, to give everyone a voice and to help transform society for the future. The scale of the technology and infrastructure that must be built is unprecedented, and we believe this is the most important problem we can focus on.
IEK
IEK Mombasa branch visits Base Titanium Limited
B
ase Titanium Limited is a wholly -owned subsidiary of Australianlisted resources company, Base Resources Limited (ASX: BSE). Its flagship development is the Kwale Mineral Sands Project in Kwale County, 50km south of Mombasa. Construction at the Kwale Project is well advanced; with practical completion on schedule for the third quarter of 2013. By the end of 2013, Base Titanium will commence shipping off three distinct product streams processed from the Kwale Project’s highvalue, heavy-mineral assemblage. Going forward, it will produce: 330,000 tonnes of ilmenite, 80,000 tonnes (representing 14% of the world’s rutile output) and 30,000 tonnes of zircon annually for the first seven years of operation, reducing as mineral grades reduce in later years. I n t h e p r o c e s s , t h e K wa l e P r o j e c t will significantly boost revenue for the Government of Kenya, delivering approximately $300 million in tax and royalty payments over the life of the mine, together with considerable indirect taxation benefits.
The Process Plants comprise a Wet Concentrator Plant (“WCP”) and Minerals Separation Plant (“MSP”) which treat the ore from the mine to first produce heavy minerals concentrate; then separating the concentrate into its constituent minerals - ilmenite, rutile and zircon - in the MSP. In the WCP the main unit operations include: slimes separation and thickening, water recovery and spirals concentration. The MSP comprises: feed preparation, electromagnetic ilmenite separation, electrostatic rutile separation and zircon purification. Production storage and load out facilities are also included. The finished products are then ferried by road trucks to Base Titanium’s Marine Facility which comprises: onshore mineral products receiver, a mineral storage shed and load out facilities, a conveyor system and wharf and ship loaders with an interconnecting jetty. This facility is located near the Likoni Ferry. The mining site is supplied with electricity from a 14km, 132kV power transmission line constructed from the Galu Substation.
The line terminates at a new substation constructed at the mine site and then distributed on site. For its water requirements, the company is building an 8.8 million cubic metres water storage dam on the Mukurumudzi River with associated spillway. The earth embankment is 22 metres high with a span of 350 metres. The company has constructed a Tailings Storage Facility (“TSF”) whose purpose is to receive and store the slimes fraction after separation from the ore. The TSF consists of: walls constructed from the process waste sand, penstocks, settling ponds, a water recovery system, and return water pumping system. Initially embankments will be constructed to close off natural valleys. Also part of the project’s infrastructure components is a recently completed 8km sealed access road linking the mine site to the A14 coastal highway and a bore field to supplement the surface water supply.
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
42
IEK
In Memory of Eng. John Symes
E
ng. William John Peregrine Stallard Symes was born on 13th August, 1923 and died, within weeks of his 90th Birthday on 14th July, 2013. He was educated at Kindergarten, Preparatory and Secondary Schools between 1927 and 1940 and in 1941, he enrolled for a degree course at University College, London. In August, 1941 he was called up for Military Service and underwent basic and advanced infantry training. On his 20th Birthday, he embarked on a troopship and sailed down the Clyde. He was in the invasion force which landed in the Bay of Salerno, Italy. The Allies advanced to the Volturno River. He was in a company of about twenty men who crossed the river and captured and secured the bridge. Panzer force counter attacked and Eng. Symes was wounded three times. His condition was assessed as a “Blightly” and was shipped back in a hospital ship to England. Out of the brigade of some 950 men in which he served, nine got through the war unscathed. The others were wounded or taken as prisoners of war. In 1945, he was discharged from the army.
43
Training and practice In 1946, he applied to the University of Nottingham and was given a place in the Engineering Faculty to study for a degree in Civil Engineering. In 1950, he gained a BSc in Civil Engineering. In 1950, he joined a two year practical training course organized by the major British Engineering Institutions for exservice personnel. In 1953, he obtained a post in the Colonial Engineering Service and was posted to the Public Works Department in Kenya. He worked in various engineering departments and field divisions. He rose to become head of the PWD up to Kenya’s Independence in 1963. The British Government had formed a Corps of Specialists which was recruiting engineers who could be seconded to newly independent governments. Eng. Symes joined the corps of specialists and was seconded to the Kenya Government. In 1963, he was appointed to the post of Engineer-in-Chief of the Ministry of Works and in 1967 he was awarded the Commander of the British Empire Medal for his Services to Engineering in Kenya. “Symes, William John Peregrine Stallard CBE born 1923, educated at St. Augustines
KENYA ENGINEER - September/October 2013
Datchet then Nottingham University. AMICE, AMIStructE Colonial Engineering Service 1953, Engineer-in-Chief Ministry of Works, Kenya and then Chief of E.A. Engineering Consultants 1967. Created CBE (Civil) 1967”, a quote from Debretts, 1968 after John received the CBE states. On gaining independence, Kenya received substantial sums of money and offers of technical assistance from the International Community which enabled a large development programme to be undertaken. In 1968, John handed over the Ministry of Works to Eng. Simon Mbugua who proved to be an outstanding Engineer and Administrator. In 1968, he formed East African Engineering Consultants from which he resigned in 1992.In that same year (1992) he was offered and accepted the post of Advisor to the Director of the National Water and Pipeline Corporation from which he finally retired in 1998. Engineer Symes was an outstanding leader of East African Engineering Consultants and the Surtech Soils and Materials Testing Consultancy. He took great pride in the dedication of the consultancies to provide both a professional consultancy service throughout Eastern African but also their ability to train numerous young Engineers by providing industrial attachment in the firms during their undergraduate years. Many senior Engineers working in Kenya today gained useful experience within East African Engineering Consultants and the Surtech Geotechnical Laboratories before and after graduation. Registration Engineer Symes helped in the creation of the Engineer’s Registration Board on which he served for a number of years in the 1970s and 80s. As a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators John Symes resolved a number of extensive and difficult disputes in his role as an Elder Statesman in the construction industry for which he was highly respected by Claimant and Respondent alike.
IEK IEK COUNCIL
MEMBERS OF IEK COMMITTEES
POSITION NAME Chairman Eng. J M Riungu 1st Vice Chairman Eng. R K Kosgei 2nd Vice Chairman Eng. M E Okonji Hon. Secretary Eng. M Shiribwa Hon. Treasurer Eng. R K Chepkwony Member Eng. Grace L. Onyango Member Eng. W R Okubo OGW Member Eng. R Kung’u Member Eng. C Ogut Member Eng. H S Amaje Member Eng. J Mutilili Member Eng. C Juma Retiring Past Chairman Eng. D M Wanjau Chairman Mombasa Branch Eng. Z Anganya Vice Chairman Mombasa Branch Eng. M Owuor Branch Sec/ Treasurer Mombasa Branch Eng. J O Odumbe Chairman Western Branch Eng. P M Wambua Vice Chairman Western Branch Eng. S K Mahanu Branch Sec/Treasurer Western Kenya Eng. I Chebii
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Eng. J M Riungu Chairman Eng. M.Shiribwa Member Eng. R Chepkwony Member Eng. R K Kosgei Member Eng. M E Okonji Member MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Eng. M E Okonji Eng. M Shiribwa Eng. S N Charagu Eng. Rosemary Kung’u Eng. W Okubo Eng. John Nyaguti
DISCIPLINE AND ARBITRATION COMMITTEE Eng. Francis Ngokonyo Member Eng. Shem O Noah Member Eng. E Mwongera Member Eng. W Okubo Member TRAINING COMMITTEE Eng. J Riungu Eng. S Ouna Eng. C Ogut Eng. G. Njorohio Eng. P Okaka
Engineer Symes will be sadly missed by his many colleagues and friends throughout the Kenya Construction Industry and the Community at Large.
Chairman Member Member Member Member Member
JOURNAL COMMITTEE A A McCorkindale F W Ngokonyo N O Booker J N Kariuki Prof M Kashorda S M Ngare Allan Muhalia A W Otsieno S K Kibe M Majiwa
Chairman Secretary Member Member Member
Chairman Vice-Chairman Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT Eng. R Kosgei Chairman Eng. D M Wanjau Member Eng. J Riungu Member Eng. A Kosgei Member INDUSTRIALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT Eng. H.S Amaje Chairman Eng. M.E .Okonji Vice Chair