Powering Kenya

has won a $25m contract to upgrade and expand the system that controls power transmission and distribution networks in Nairobi, Kenya.

ABB supplied the original SCADA/EMS System (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System) 20 years ago and has also been the major supplier of utility communication equipment to KPLC over the last 30 years.

‘We are very pleased to be able to continue to work with KPLC on improving the quality, reliability and security of the electricity supply in Kenya,’ said Peter Leupp, head of the power system division.

‘Maintaining power delivery as load increases in the morning, keeping it within security limits during daily peaks, and managing load decreases at night are just some of the tasks the control system will perform.’

The control system will comprise five control centres, in Nairobi and around the country, equipped with redundant computer systems and ABB Network Manager SCADA/EMS software. The centres will be linked to more than 90 substations and power stations by over 1300km of OPGW (Optical Ground Wire), ABB FOX 515 multiplexers, ABB ETL 600 Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC) and radio communications.