Would have provided 1,050MW of baseload power (cancelled due to environmental concerns)
Lamu Coal Plant
Proposed 1,050MW coal-fired power plant at Lamu that was cancelled after a landmark environmental tribunal ruling.
AnnouncedJanuary 1, 2013
Financials
Offering PriceKsh 200,000,000,000KES
Timeline
Project Announced
Amu Power announced plans for a 1,050MW coal plant near Lamu
Environmental Protests
Local communities, fishermen, and environmental groups launched sustained protests against the coal plant
Tribunal Cancels EIA License
National Environment Tribunal ruled against the coal plant, cancelling its Environmental Impact Assessment license
Scandals & Controversies
Environmental Protests
January 1, 2016Local communities, fishermen, and environmental groups launched sustained protests against the coal plant
Contractors
Amu Power Company
Project DeveloperSPV formed by Centum Investment and Gulf Energy to develop the coal plant
Politicians Involved
Uhuru Kenyatta
President of KenyaGovernment supported the coal plant as part of energy expansion plan
Charles Keter
Cabinet Secretary for EnergyChampioned the coal plant before it was cancelled
Benefits
Description
The Lamu Coal Plant was a proposed 1,050MW coal-fired power station to be built near Lamu by Amu Power Company, a consortium including Centum Investment and Gulf Energy. It would have been East Africa's first coal plant. The project faced intense opposition from environmental groups, fishing communities, and UNESCO (due to proximity to Lamu Old Town World Heritage Site). In 2019, Kenya's National Environment Tribunal cancelled the Environmental Impact Assessment license, effectively killing the project. This was hailed as a landmark environmental victory.
Overview
Landmark case in African environmental law; tribunal ruling prioritized environmental protection and community rights over industrial development.