Efforts by the Chinese government to provide support to its struggling PV manufacturing sector have surfaced in Kenya, Africa, in the form of a government-approved business. Known for its municipal public works, Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic & Technical Co, Ltd. (CJIC), is planning to build a 50MW solar power project near the country’s northwest-located city of Garissa.
The power plant, the biggest conventional c-Si module-based groundmounted project yet planned in Africa will use modules supplied by China-based manufacturer, JinkoSolar, believed to be on a rumoured list of between 15 and 20 module suppliers the government intends to support through a period of consolidation.
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“We are pleased to be a part of Kenya's push towards clean-tech development and commitment to renewable energy,” said Kangping Chen, chief executive officer of JinkoSolar. “As a market leader in the solar energy business, JinkoSolar will play a key role in supply Kenya's growing demand for solar energy. By cooperating with CJIC, we expect this project will provide JinkoSolar with future opportunities in Kenya's solar power plant industry.”
The planned power plant is said to occupy an 81 hectare site, situated in an arid but extremely constant region of high daylight temperatures. The plant has an expected output of approximately 76,473MWh per year and be grid-connected.
However, timelines for planning, construction and connection were not initially disclosed. Financial details were unknown.
