POWERGRID, Africa50 sign PPP agreement for Kenya projects

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna PSU under Ministry of Power, in partnership with Africa50, has signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project Agreement for the development of critical transmission infrastructure in Kenya, covering the 400 kV Lessos – Loosuk and 220 kV Kisumu – Kakamega – Musaga transmission systems, with a concession period of 30 years.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr RK Tyagi, Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Yatindra Dwivedi, Director (Personnel) and Mr Sanjay Kumar Gupta, COO (IB), POWERGRID, along with senior Kenyan Government representatives including Mr Alex Kamau Wachira, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy, Dr Chris K Kiptoo, CBS, Principal Secretary, The National Treasury, Eng.

Kipkemoi Kibias, Acting Managing Director, and Eng. Kefa Seda, Director General, Public Private Partnerships Directorate. This project marks Africa’s first Independent Transmission Project (ITP) and represents POWERGRID’s first project-finance international transmission venture in Africa. The proposed transmission projects are designed to strengthen Kenya’s national grid, improve system reliability and facilitate the evacuation of power from renewable-rich regions to major load centres, transmission lines and associated substations. Structured under a PPP framework, the project reflects growing confidence in private sector participation in Africa’s power transmission sector.

Africa50, an infrastructure investment platform established by African Governments and the African Development Bank, brings strong regional expertise and financial structuring capabilities, while POWERGRID contributes its extensive technical, operational, and project management experience in large-scale transmission systems.

With footprint spanning over 25 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe, POWERGRID has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver power transmission solutions in diverse and challenging geographies. POWERGRID’s collaboration with Africa50 reflects its growing role as a trusted global partner in the development of power transmission infrastructure.

As of 15 th December 2025, POWERGRID has commissioned and is operating 287 Sub-stations and more than 1,81,894 ckm transmission lines and 5,93,016 MVA of transformation capacity. With the adoption of the latest technological tools and techniques, enhanced use of automation and digital solutions, POWERGRID has been able to maintain an average transmission system availability of more than 99.84%.