Kenya abandons plan to electrify its SGR citing high costs and irregular power supply

Kenya has dropped plans for electrification of the standard gauge railway (SGR) line between Mombasa and Nairobi, citing its high costs and irregular power supply.

Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina said on Thursday preliminary research had shown inadequate demand for electric trains in Kenya.

The government had earlier planned a Sh49 billion electric upgrade before 2021 and ahead of Uganda linking its SGR line to the Kenyan one.

“Electrifying this line also depends on our ability as a country to finance that kind of infrastructure,” said Mr Maina.

“It was something that we would love to have, however, the country does not have a dependable source of electricity.”

While the frequency and severity of outages in Kenya have fallen over the years, many firms still run stand-by generators to cope with any supply interruptions.

China Road and Bridge Corporation, which was appointed to build the Mombasa-Nairobi line, will be offered 15 per cent over the current construction costs of Sh327 billion or Sh49.05 billion more to upgrade the line.

READ: Nairobi talks to discuss SGR cargo drought

An electric track was needed for fast movement of bigger containers and passengers in the quest to boost East Africa’s competitiveness as an investment destination.

The faster SGR railway, which was built in two-and-half years, started passenger services mid last year and commercial cargo services this month.

The design of the SGR rail line — which is currently run by diesel-powered locomotives — allows for the addition of a single electric line.

On Thursday, Mr Maina said in a TV interview that demand for electric train does not exist in Kenya at the moment.

He argued that electrifying the line would enhance the speed of the railway, but could not take Kenya to speeds of up to 250km per hour seen in developed nations such as China, Germany and UK.

“Those trains are designed for passenger movement in countries where the focus is to move millions of people. I do not think the demand exists in this country now,” he said.

Kenya drops bid for electric SGR trains

Cicero said:

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Sisi tunajenga Stiegler Gorge la kuzalisha
> 2000 MW, halafu kuna takataka wanataka kupinga?

fvck chadema na wapinga maendeleo wote!

Barbarosa said:

Sisi tunajenga Stiegler Gorge la kuzalisha > 2000 MW, halafu kuna takataka wanataka kupinga?

fvck chadema na wapinga maendeleo wote!

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Tusign mkataba wa kuwauzia wakenya umeme wa kuendeshea matreni yao basi maana no way hizo 2000MW tutaziconsume wenyewe demand yetu bado ni ndogo mno!

Cicero said:

Tusign mkataba wa kuwauzia wakenya umeme wa kuendeshea matreni yao basi maana no way hizo 2000MW tutaziconsume wenyewe demand yetu bado ni ndogo mno!

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Ni nani amekwambia hizo hatuwezi kuzitumia zote? Tukijenga smelter moja kubwa ya uhakika pmj na Treni zetu hizo zinateketea zote!

i like this hakuna haja tuujenge staff hatuneed sana

COLLOH-MZII RELOADED said:

i like this hakuna haja tuujenge staff hatuneed sana

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Tatizo ninyi wakenya vichwa vyenu vimejaa nyuki, leo mnasema hili, kesho mnazungumza lingine, hamjui mnalotaka hapa duniani. Mliamua kujenga diesel railway, ghafla mliposikia Tanzania inajenga eectric one, huyu Maina akapata pressure kubwa ya wakenya, akawadanganya kwamba ataweka electricity within three years, leo anasema hakuna need ya electric train kwa sasa, hovyo kabisa ninyi.

Ninakuhakikishia Tanzania ikianza kutumia train za umeme na zikawavutia wakenya wakaanza tena kuweka pressure kwa Government, huyuhuyu Maina atarudi tena na kusema tutaweka umeme kwenye reli yetu, na wakenya watamuelewa tena.

joto la jiwe said:

Tatizo ninyi wakenya vichwa vyenu vimejaa nyuki, leo mnasema hili, kesho mnazungumza lingine, hamjui mnalotaka hapa duniani. Mliamua kujenga diesel railway, ghafla mliposikia Tanzania inajenga eectric one, huyu Maina akapata pressure kubwa ya wakenya, akawadanganya kwamba ataweka electricity within three years, leo anasema hakuna need ya electric train kwa sasa, hovyo kabisa ninyi.

Ninakuhakikishia Tanzania ikianza kutumia train za umeme na zikawavutia wakenya wakaanza tena kuweka pressure kwa Government, huyuhuyu Maina atarudi tena na kusema tutaweka umeme kwenye reli yetu, na wakenya watamuelewa tena.

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Tatizo lenyu hapa ni inferiority complex. Mawazo ya electrification ya hiyo Railway ilianza kitambo sana. Focus ya Kenya ni movement of goods wala si movement of people. Ninyi fanyeni yenu, wacha sisi tufanye yetu. Ikiwa tutabadilisha, tutabadilisha tu. Nikiweza ku paraphrase alichosema balozi wa US kule Somalia miaka ya 80'. "Tanzanians (on JF) think that they are are the centre of world affairs when they barely exist at its periphery."

Barbarosa said:

Ni nani amekwambia hizo hatuwezi kuzitumia zote? Tukijenga smelter moja kubwa ya uhakika pmj na Treni zetu hizo zinateketea zote!

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Not so sure.
Consumption ya matreni sio kubwa kama unavyodhani. Between 4 and 6 MW per train. And this depends on mambo mengi sana.
Alafu wewe bila kuitaja CHADEMA hujiskii raha eh?
Maendeleo is not equal to CCM and vice versa. In fact I think our economy would be much better off without CCM.

Demand ya electric train kws sasa sio kubwa vile, nina uhakika itakuja fanikishwa, hamna haja ya kutunisha misuli bila kutumia akili, kwa mfano kule Tanzania kutwa majenereta yanarindima mjini kwa matatizo yao ya kila siku ya umeme, wana mazoea ya kujitutumua kutafuna mfupa unaozidi meno yao, miundo mbinu yao ya sasa ni majanga, hebu tazama hii video ya juzi.

MwendaOmo said:

Tatizo lenyu hapa ni inferiority complex. Mawazo ya electrification ya hiyo Railway ilianza kitambo sana. Focus ya Kenya ni movement of goods wala si movement of people. Ninyi fanyeni yenu, wacha sisi tufanye yetu. Ikiwa tutabadilisha, tutabadilisha tu. Nikiweza ku paraphrase alichosema balozi wa US kule Somalia miaka ya 80'. "Tanzanians (on JF) think that they are are the centre of world affairs when they barely exist at its periphery."

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Hahaa you even have to make up quotes. SMH.

joto la jiwe said:

Tatizo ninyi wakenya vichwa vyenu vimejaa nyuki, leo mnasema hili, kesho mnazungumza lingine, hamjui mnalotaka hapa duniani. Mliamua kujenga diesel railway, ghafla mliposikia Tanzania inajenga eectric one, huyu Maina akapata pressure kubwa ya wakenya, akawadanganya kwamba ataweka electricity within three years, leo anasema hakuna need ya electric train kwa sasa, hovyo kabisa ninyi.

Ninakuhakikishia Tanzania ikianza kutumia train za umeme na zikawavutia wakenya wakaanza tena kuweka pressure kwa Government, huyuhuyu Maina atarudi tena na kusema tutaweka umeme kwenye reli yetu, na wakenya watamuelewa tena.

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Wamebakiza akili za kuvuka barabara tu. wengi wao ni miraa au bangi mtu.

MwendaOmo said:

Tatizo lenyu hapa ni inferiority complex. Mawazo ya electrification ya hiyo Railway ilianza kitambo sana. Focus ya Kenya ni movement of goods wala si movement of people. Ninyi fanyeni yenu, wacha sisi tufanye yetu. Ikiwa tutabadilisha, tutabadilisha tu. Nikiweza ku paraphrase alichosema balozi wa US kule Somalia miaka ya 80'. "Tanzanians (on JF) think that they are are the centre of world affairs when they barely exist at its periphery."

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Akili zenu hazina uwezo wa kufikiria miaka mingi ijayo, mumekua mkibadili mipango kila mara, sasa kama ni tatizo la umeme ina maana Kenya itaendelea kuwa na tatizo la umeme for the next ten years, hamna mipango ya kukabiliana na tatizo hilo?, …ina maana baada ya miaka kumi mkiwa na umeme wa kutosha mtarudi tena mezani kuzungumzia kuweka umeme na kununua elecrical locomotives, just within ten year period?. No wonder njaa na ukabila haviishi, hamuwezi kupanga mipango ya 50yrs ijayo, stupid Nation, stupid people.

Kenya Power inajitahidi sana kwenye usambazaji wa umeme. Blackout za kila mara Kenya tulizizika kwenye kaburi la sahau. Stima kupotea haizidi hata mara tatu kwa mwaka. Majenerata wakenya wengi hata kwenye miji hawana. Lakini bado tunasema hatujafika. Haya ndo mawazo yanayofaa kwenye karne hii. Tusiwe na haraka na mambo yasokuwa na tija. Eti electric train. Acha tuzalishe umeme zaidi wa kutosheleza pia na viwanda vyote, na vingine vipya vitakavojengwa. Baadae ndo sasa turudi kwenye wazo la treni zinazotumia umeme. Hapa serikali naipa tick.

COLLOH-MZII RELOADED said:

i like this hakuna haja tuujenge staff hatuneed sana

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Yap! That saves resources much needed elsewhere. In future it can be electrified since already the cabling infrastructure is in place along the track

pingli-nywee said:

Kenya Power inajitahidi sana kwenye usambazaji wa umeme. Blackout za kila mara Kenya tulizizika kwenye kaburi la sahau. Stima kupotea haizidi hata mara tatu kwa mwaka. Majenerata wakenya wengi hata kwenye miji hawana. Lakini bado tunasema hatujafika. Haya ndo mawazo yanayofaa kwenye karne hii. Tusiwe na haraka na mambo yasokuwa na tija. Eti electric train. Acha tuzalishe umeme zaidi ya kutosheleza pia na viwanda vyote, na vingine vipya vitakavojengwa. Baadae ndo sasa turudi kwenye wazo la treni zinazotumia umeme. Hapa serikali naipa tick.

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Kwanza ufahamu kwamba huyo anayezungumzia umeme kukatika Tanzania ni muongo sana, hajafika mwaka mmoja uliofika, Magufuli anabadilisha nchi kwa kasi sana, pili umeme wa train utajitegemea kabisa, utakuwa na chanzo chake maalumu.

Hakuna mtu anayesema kwamba ni lazima Kenya ijenge electrical train, inategemeana na mipango yenu mlivyojiwekea, kinachoshangaza ni pale serikali yenu na ninyi wenyewe kutokua na msimamo, miezi michache iliyopita wote mlikuwa mnaunga mkono ahadi za huyu Maina kwamba mtaweka umeme baada ya miaka mitatu, sisi tukawapinga kwamba sio rahisi kwa Kenya kuweka umeme na tukawapa sababu zinazofanya Kenya kushindwa kuweka umeme, moja ni ukosefu wa fedha, mliendelea kupinga na kuamini kwamba mtaweka umeme, sasa Maina huyu huyu anarudi na kusema hamtoweka umeme na ametoa sababu ile ile ya pesa, na nyinyi kama mazuzu mnageuka na kumuunga mkono, stupid Nation, stupid people.

Cicero said:

Hahaa you even have to make up quotes. SMH.
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Ona akili hizo hapo juu.
sasa kwa nyie mliouza nchi yenu kwa kina Lord Dalameira sijui mtaitwa pompompo.

joto la jiwe said:

Kwanza ufahamu kwamba huyo anayezungumzia umeme kukatika Tanzania ni muongo sana, hajafika mwaka mmoja uliofika, Magufuli anabadilisha nchi kwa kasi sana, pili umeme wa train utajitegemea kabisa, utakuwa na chanzo chake maalumu.

Hakuna mtu anayesema kwamba ni lazima Kenya ijenge electrical train, inategemeana na mipango yenu mlivyojiwekea, kinachoshangaza ni pale serikali yenu na ninyi wenyewe kutokua na msimamo, miezi michache iliyopita wote mlikuwa mnaunga mkono ahadi za huyu Maina kwamba mtaweka umeme baada ya miaka mitatu, sisi tukawapinga kwamba sio rahisi kwa Kenya kuweka umeme na tukawapa sababu zinazofanya Kenya kushindwa kuweka umeme, moja ni ukosefu wa fedha, mliendelea kupinga na kuamini kwamba mtaweka umeme, sasa Maina huyu huyu anarudi na kusema hamtoweka umeme na ametoa sababu ile ile ya pesa, na nyinyi kama mazuzu mnageuka na kumuunga mkono, stupid Nation, stupid people.

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The plan was made to start electrifying in 2020 so don't hold your breath. In my opinion the ekectfication should start once it reaches kisumu. Hizo mitaa kuna watu wengi sana. Passenger trains will be more in that route because of high population. I don't think we need an electric train when the people have no power. After universal electricity connection to homes we can electrify then.

joto la jiwe said:

Kwanza ufahamu kwamba huyo anayezungumzia umeme kukatika Tanzania ni muongo sana, hajafika mwaka mmoja uliofika, Magufuli anabadilisha nchi kwa kasi sana, pili umeme wa train utajitegemea kabisa, utakuwa na chanzo chake maalumu.

Hakuna mtu anayesema kwamba ni lazima Kenya ijenge electrical train, inategemeana na mipango yenu mlivyojiwekea, kinachoshangaza ni pale serikali yenu na ninyi wenyewe kutokua na msimamo, miezi michache iliyopita wote mlikuwa

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Eti stupid people stupid nation. Hehehe 😀😀😀. Unaongea utadhani ndo umetoka S.A au hata Egypt. Sasa unataka tuwe na electric train kisa eti tz? Unadhani tz na Kenya ndo nchi mbili pekee yake Africa nzima au hata duniani? Kuna maisha kando na haya unayoishi hapa jf Kenya forums na vita vya Ke. vs Tz. Hivi we jamaa huwa unaoga na kufanya shughuli zingine nyeti saa ngapi? Maanake unakesha hapa zaidi ya hata moderators. Utakuwa unachapia uvundo zaidi kama wa nungunungu aliyegongwa na trela.

Njia nyeupeeeee Kwa Museveni kujoin central corridor! With all hydropower projects in Uganda there's no way Uganda will settle for diesel trains, Nah whaoo...That COW thing must have told Kenya a lesson not to be snitch not greed!

MK254 said:

Demand ya electric train kws sasa sio kubwa vile, nina uhakika itakuja fanikishwa, hamna haja ya kutunisha misuli bila kutumia akili, kwa mfano kule Tanzania kutwa majenereta yanarindima mjini kwa matatizo yao ya kila siku ya umeme, wana mazoea ya kujitutumua kutafuna mfupa unaozidi meno yao, miundo mbinu yao ya sasa ni majanga, hebu tazama hii video ya juzi.

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Tatizo la kenya hata si umeme, tatizo ni unreliable electric grid... Unakuta transfoner ama sub station inaharibika rahisi .... We first need a truly smart grid and we also need a completely new national 21st century grid... An overhaul will set us back about $2B, or else even the nuclear plant would not be viable..
Reli ya Ethiopia imekwama njiani for 7 hours ikingoja stima zirudi, mind you ethiopia has more power than EAC combined