Energy Cabinet secretary Charles Keter has said the Kenya will involve more private investors in capital intensive energy projects citing geothermal and renewable energy.
He said Kenya will not attain its energy goals without private sector partnership in order to fast track geothermal power production to full potential.
“We are working on a partnership with the private sector. We want investors to start drilling oil and run geothermal power plants,” he said.
The CS said this when he met UK High Commissioner Nic Hailey at his Nyayo House office.
Keter assured Kenyans that they will not have to wait for long to benefit from oil extraction.
He said the government is committed to achieving a universal access to power by the year 2020 but this, he said, can only be attained with additional funding.
During the meeting the government committed itself to the “Partnership in the Energy Africa Campaign” seeking to fast track the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal number 7 that calls for action to connect every African to power by 2030.
Currently only one out of three people living in Africa have electricity in their homes.
Hailey said Kenya needs to fast track infrastructure development in oil extraction to attract investors.
“Although it will take time to build the infrastructure, doing so will send a strong signal to the world about the country’s seriousness in oil extraction,” he said.
The envoy said Kenya should tackle the existing challenges faced by foreign investors in the energy sector
“You need to address the investment conditions in the country for investors to come,” he said.
He said his government will continue supporting the use of affordable and renewable energy in Kenya citing M-Kopa, an affordable energy initiative funded by UK’s Department for International Development to enable Kenyans extend off-grid solar lighting in the country.
Energy Principal secretary Joseph Njoroge said M-Kopa has made safe energy accessible to Kenyans who did not have power.