#energydevelopment

Kathmandu: The Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, the largest hydropower project being constructed in Nepal through foreign direct investment (FDI), has achieved another major milestone in its construction progress. The 216 MW project, currently under construction in Rasuwa, has gained renewed momentum following the successful installation and testing of the “weir gate” at its dam site. Led by…

Kenya is advancing plans to expand its petroleum transportation network by extending the Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali pipeline, aiming to enhance fuel supply across East Africa. The project targets regional partners, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan, to facilitate efficient distribution of refined petroleum products.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, speaking during the unveiling of a new pump station in Ngema, Nakuru County, said the initiative will solidify Mombasa’s role as the region’s primary and most cost-effective fuel gateway.

"Uganda is fully utilizing the corridor, while Rwanda is at 70 percent. Extending the pipeline from Eldoret will integrate more countries, driving sustainable development and economic prosperity across the region," Wandayi stated.

The newly commissioned pump station, developed by the Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) at a cost of KSh 1.3 billion ($10.9 million), will increase the product flow rate along the 14-inch western Kenya pipeline from 330 cubic meters per hour to 510 cubic meters per hour — a 69 percent boost.

The project, part of the second phase of the Line IV (Nairobi-Eldoret) Capacity Enhancement Project initiated in 2022, follows the installation of pumping stations at Nairobi Terminal (PS21) and Nakuru (PS24).

KPC Managing Director Joe Sang revealed plans to further optimize the pipeline’s flow rate to 757 cubic meters per hour upon completion of the third upgrade phase. He also highlighted an upcoming reconfiguration of the Nairobi Terminal to a 2+1 mode, ensuring uninterrupted operations with two pumps running and one on standby.

"This achievement demonstrates the growing capacity of local expertise," Sang said, commending Strata Industrial Ltd, the Kenyan contractor responsible for the project.

Strata Industrial Managing Director Francis Njogu praised the collaboration, noting, "This project proves that indigenous companies can deliver major infrastructure projects on time and within budget."

U.S. manufacturing takes up a lot of energy, but there’s untapped potential in solar power for that sector, new research finds. A study looked at how installing solar panels throughout manufacturing sites could meet a third of that sector’s power needs. Read more…

The Year Ahead in Energy

Molly Taft covers energy and the environment for Earther. Follow her on Twitter here and please email any scoops to [email protected]. Read more…

The Biggest Energy Surprises of 2022

It’s been a hell of a year in energy. 2022 was full of historic changes—and quite a few surprises—as the world grappled with an energy crisis and reached a turning point in the energy transition. Here, we break down the top moments that made our eyebrows shoot up. Read more…

The Energy Crisis Could Actually Be Good for the Climate

In the world of climate change, we’ll take all the good news we can get. The energy crisis kicked off by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year could represent a “historic turning point” for ending the world’s reliance on fossil fuels, the world’s top energy agency said this week. Read more…