POWER Engineers Inc. (Hailey, Idaho, U.S.) will perform a feasibility study of four high-priority power transmission projects in Kenya. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency issued a grant to the Kenya Power and Lighting Co. (KPLC) to fund the study. The funding provided for this project is the single largest grant the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has ever extended to Kenya and the first grant in the past 10 years.

The study also will investigate the benefits of developing or improving transmission interties with neighboring countries Uganda and Tanzania to facilitate the sale and purchase of energy between the countries to minimize the effects of localized drought.

The funding comes as several components of Kenya's electric transmission system are reaching capacity. Demand for electricity is growing at 4.9% per year with state-owned power company CVG Electrificación del Caroní, C.A. (EDELCA). Generation is expected to increase to 1332 MW from the current 1172 MW by 2005, and KPLC needs to upgrade the country's transmission system to get the power to the people.
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