France’s AFD Launches Solar PV Tender For Kenya

• KenGen has opened a new tender for the supervision and management of a 42.5 MW solar power plant 
• The Seven Forks PV Project is sited in Embu County, Mbeere South Sub-County 
• KenGen plans to finance the works using part of the proceeds from an AFD financing 

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) is looking for consultants to supervise and manage a solar power plant in the country's Embu County. The 42.5 MW Seven Forks project is scheduled to come up in Mbeere South Sub-County. 

Broad scope of work for the winner will be to review project documentation throughout the project period, help select EPC contractors and ensure the transfer of knowledge. 

It will also be required to ensure contract management of the EPC contract and local works for the Seven Forks Solar PV Project. The consultant will be on board for 58 calendar months. 

KenGen will use part of the proceeds from the financing received from France's Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to cover expenses of this consultancy. 

The expression of interest (EOI) was issued on January 3, 2024 and will be open for submissions till February 21, 2024, according to the call details on AFD website. 

This tender follows KenGen's call for a 40 MW floating solar power plant on the Kamburu Hydropower Reservoir in November 2023, which is close to the location of the Seven Forks PV project (see Kenya Launches Tender For 40 MW Floating Solar Plant).   

KenGen is taking interest in solar to diversify its renewable energy portfolio that currently is dominated by climate-change impacted hydropower and geothermal technologies. Wind energy makes up 25.5 MW of its generation capacity. Late last year, it was appointed as the implementing agency for the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of the Kenya Green and Resilient Expansion of Energy (GREEN) program, funded by the World Bank.