Kitui power station
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Kitui power station is a cancelled power station in Kitui County, Coast, Kenya.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Kitui power station | Kitui County, Coast, Kenya | -1.483333, 38.383333 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
| cancelled | coal: lignite | 960 | unknown |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Owner | Parent |
|---|---|
| to be determined [100%] | to be determined [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Kitui
Background
In 2010, the Kenyan government awarded a mining concession to the Chinese company Jung‘u and its subsidiary Fenxi Mining Industry Ltd to mine coal in the Mui Basin.[1] A benefit sharing agreement was signed between Fenxi and the government in Mwingi town on December 23, 2013. A Chinese consortium was also given mining rights in 2015.[2]
In October 2014, it was reported that the ministry of energy was evaluating bids from international power producers to build a 960MW coal-fired power plant in Kitui, under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) framework. The plant would use coal from Kitui, with operation planned for 2016.[3]
As of December 2017, mining had yet to begin in the region.[4] There had also been no developments on the coal plant, although a March 2018 article stated "One of the [Kenya] National Energy and Petroleum Policy’s long-term goals is to facilitate development of a 960-megawatt coal-fired plant within Mui Basin — in Kitui."[5]
In July 2018, it was reported that feasibility studies on the 960 MW coal plant were underway.[6]
Residents petitioned Parliament to have the coal mining and plant project stopped.[7]
In September 2020, The Star Kenya reported that coal mining had not proceeded in the Mui Basin region due to widespread public opposition.[8] However, in November 2020, others noted there were several indications that plans for coal mining industry development in Mui Basin, Kitui, were moving forward.[9]
According to August 2021 reporting, the government revealed during a recent budget reading that there were plans to drill 20 more coal exploration wells.[10] An extensive 2019-2021 State of Environment Report states: "Coal consumption is expected to increase with the discovery and mining of coal deposits in Mui Basin in Kitui County and other parts of the country".[11]
In November 2022, President William Ruto reportedly announced that the coal mining project in Kitui would be revived.[12] With no apparent developments relating specifically to the power plant, it appeared to be cancelled.
Public opposition
According to a 2015 report, 2021 report, and other sources, the coal mining would lead to large-scale evictions of at least 100,000 people. Locals filed a petition against the project, resulting in a 2015 ruling providing for greater public participation in consultation on all matters, including compensation.[1][10]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Coal mining disrupts people’s livelihoods in Mui Basin, Kenya," Both Ends, Actionaid, CIEL, Dhaatri and Keystone Foundation, 2015
- ↑ "Kitui wants details of Mui coal project," The Star, February 15, 2016
- ↑ "Kenyan county woos investors in coal mining," Xinhuanet, October 7, 2014
- ↑ "Coal mining in Kitui yet to start 5 years after deal was signed," Daily Nation, December 1, 2017
- ↑ "Governor Ngilu’s charcoal-coal stand contradictory," DeCoalinize, March 1, 2018
- ↑ "Kenya plans 960-MW coal-fired power plant in Kitui," Business Daily, July 1, 2018
- ↑ "Kenya: Locals petition parliament to stop coal mining due to environmental, livelihood & health concerns," Business & Human Rights Resource Center, May 28, 2019
- ↑ "Kenya undecided on mining coal in Kitui's Mui Basin," The Kenya Star, September 2, 2020
- ↑ "Kenya coal mining: status quo from Mui Basin, Kitui," Decoalinize, November 26, 2020
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Kitui Coal Mining Project Is a Disaster in the Making," The Elephant, August 13, 2021
- ↑ "State of Environment 2019-2021," National Environment Management Authority, 2021
- ↑ "Ruto’s U-turn on coal could herald new era of cheaper electricity," Nation, November 23, 2022
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
