Lamu County suspends Sh200bn coal plant project

Source: Daily Nation

Kalume Kazungu

The Lamu government has directed that the Sh200 billion coal-fired power plant project intended to be set up in the county be denied a licence to operate.

The county’s leadership has asked the National Environment and Management Authority (Nema) not to allow the power plant to operate.

The county government argues that among other things, the project sponsors had not given a proper explanation on how they would deal with environmental issues given that “coal is hazardous to health and environment.”

The Lamu government also complained that views of some critical and relevant government institutions were not sought in relation to the development and setting up of the controversial coal plant.

In a letter to Nema signed by the executive officer in charge of Health and Environment Mohamed Kombo, the county government also demanded that the investors sign a deal with the county administration on how adverse effects of the power plant would be address should they arise.

Lamu, said Dr Mohamed, was home to the largest wildlife concentrations and critical marine biodiversity, livestock, forest, special and critical national assets such as the new Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor (Lapsset) project, and it was important that institutions associated with such be consulted.