World Energy Day celebrations marked in  Mombasa

By  Tobby Otum

The government has urged leaders and stakeholders in the energy sector in Africa to take advantage of the vast natural resources to create sustainable energy solutions.

Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] General Manager Engineering Services Anderson Mtalaki asked them to also take advantage of the country’s rich national resources for sustainable energy.

He noted that the continent had vast resource potential in wind, solar hydro and geothermal energy which can be sustainably
exploited.

“The continent can be self-reliant in energy as costs of exploiting renewable energy sources keep falling,” he pointed out.

Mtalaki added that Africa’s potential keeps rising arguing that between the years 2019 and 2020, solar and wind capacity in the

continent has increased by 13 percent and 11 percent respectively.

He was speaking during the opening of a two day Energy Conference to mark World Energy Day at a hotel in Nyali constituency, Mombasa county. 

The KPA officer reminded participates hydropower soared at 25 percent.

Quoting a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, Mtalaki noted that with proper policies, governance and access to

finance Sub-Saharan Africa could meet up to 67 percent of its energy needs by 2030.

He urged Kenyans to play a leading role in the Kenya Kwanza administration under stewardship of  President. William Ruto basing on his inauguration speech.

‘’During Ruto’s inauguration speech he said his administration was committed to implementing a plan of transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030,” he pointed out.

The KPA officer told participants that the authority has already implementing its Green Port Strategy by investing in solarenergy and other renewable energy sources.

Mtalaki defended the authority’s decision that will enable ships to plug in while at berth to reduce pollution.

He also noted that KPA has continued to invest in cargo handling facilities to facilitate business and economic development in the
region.

“Noting that East Africa has began to exploit its energy resources both in solar, natural gas and petroleum oil,” he pointed out.

The KPA officer  argued In order to facilitate handling of these resources, KPA has constructed a modern bigger Oil Terminal at Kipevu at the port of Mombasa.

Mtalaki explained the the newly commissioned Kipevu Oil Terminal has facilities to handle LNG and LPG imports for the region and can berth three vessels with a capacity of 170,000 tons each.

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