Following high costs and irregular power supply in Kenya, the government of the East African nation have decided to drop plans for electrification of the standard gauge railway (SGR) line between Mombasa and Nairobi.
“Electrifying this line also depends on our ability as a country to finance that kind of infrastructure. It was something that we would love to have, however, the country does not have a dependable source of electricity,” Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina said.
He said that preliminary research had shown inadequate demand for electric trains in Kenya.
The government had earlier planned a Ksh49 billion ($480m) electric upgrade before 2021 and ahead of Uganda linking its SGR line to the Kenyan one.
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 Ksh327 billion ($3.2bn) or Ksh49.05 billion ($480m) more to upgrade the line.
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 design of the SGR rail line — which is currently run by diesel-powered locomotives — allows for the addition of a single electric line.
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