KETRACO (Kenya)

Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (KETRACO) is a government-owned state corporation located in Nairobi. It was incorporated on December 2, 2008, and registered under the Companies Act. KETRACO's mandate is to plan, design, construct, own, operate, and maintain the high voltage electricity transmission grid and regional power interconnectors that form the backbone of the National Transmission Grid. Since its inception, KETRACO has focused on strengthening and extending the national power transmission grid to enhance the quality, reliability, and security of electricity supply in Kenya. The company was created to transform power transmission into an open access system, allowing large electricity customers to purchase power directly from generators. This move is expected to enhance market and supply options for both power generation and large consumers. KETRACO aims to shield electricity consumers from higher tariffs in the future by fully funding projects through the government and concessional loans, without passing on capital-related expenses to the consumer. The company also aims to improve power quality, supply, and affordability. At the time of its establishment, the existing transmission network in Kenya consisted of 1,331km of 220kV and 2,211km of 132kV lines, with interconnections to Uganda. However, the transmission system capacity was severely constrained, leading to load shedding in certain regions. KETRACO is working to develop a robust grid system to improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply throughout the country, transmit electricity to areas not currently supplied, evacuate power from planned generation plants, facilitate power exchange with neighboring countries, and reduce transmission losses and the cost of electricity to consumers. Currently, KETRACO owns approximately 37.5% of the transmission network, which includes 963km of 132kV lines, 381km of 220kV lines, and 1,020km of 400kV lines.