Lamu youth oppose coal plant, urge government to embrace renewables

A section of youth in Lamu have opposed the establishment of Sh200 billion coal-fired power plant in the county.

Speaking during a one day workshop on environmental degradation and climate change at the Tushauriane Conference Hall in Lamu on Wednesday, the youth expressed concern that the establishment of the coal plant in the county will negatively impact on the health of locals and the environment.

They called on the government to review the plan and go for green energy instead of the coal project.

The youth insisted that they were not ready for coal plant establishment in Lamu.

The project which is under Amu Power Company, a consortium of Gulf Energy and Centum Investment is to be established at Kwasasi Village in Hindi Division, Lamu West.

Some 975 acres of land have already been set aside for the establishment of the project which is expected to generate 1,050 megawatts of electricity.

Mr Mahmoud Hussein, a youth leader in Lamu vowed to coerce the local youth to support anti-coal crusaders in to global warming and the general environmental degradation not only in Lamu but the country as a whole.

“The coal plant project is hazardous to the environment and human health. As youth, let’s join hands in campaigning against the project establishment in our county. We support all intended national government projects except the Coal Plant which will destroy our generations,” said Mr Hussein. Read the whole article  here