Global construction company Isolux Corsan has won the tender for the construction of the largest high-voltage electrical transmission line in Kenya and one of the largest in Africa: 428 km long, bearing 400 kV. The EPC contract, signed with the public-sector Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco), under the auspices of the Kenyan Energy Ministry, is for EUR142m.

When built, the project will enable uploading of the power output from the wind-farm with the greatest installed capacity throughout the African continent (300 MW). It is located near to Lake Turkana, and has been developed by the private-equity company, Lake Turkana Wind Power, with support from various financial institutions led by the African Development Bank.

Construction work on the line will begin in the second half of this year, and will take 23 months. Isolux Corsan is scheduling finalization for the end of 2013.

The new high-voltage line will link the town of Loyangalani, near Lake Turkana, to the town of Suswa, on the outskirts of Nairobi, which will mean that several geothermal plants located along the route will be able to upload their output onto it in the future.

The contract signed with Ketraco is the largest EPC contract that Isolux Corsan has undertaken to date in Africa. It allows the company to become known in one of the fastest growing economic areas in Africa, within the framework of a landmark project, namely the highest-capacity wind-farm in the continent. It will also make it possible for Isolux Corsan to expand its business activity in the area over the next few years.

The contract signed with Ketraco consolidates Isolux Corsan's business in Africa, where it already has stable operations in eight countries: Angola, Algeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco and Mozambique. Its activity on the African continent contributes 8% of the company's total revenues. The projects underway in Africa, mainly in the energy sector, represent a turnover for Isolux Corsan of over EUR1 billion.