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Supply & Installation of Rural Distribution Networks / Kenya

The Last Mile projects in Kenya form part of a high profile campaign by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank to bring power to the most remote parts of the country. BES competed in an open international bidding process and was successful with one lot covering nine counties.

BES was contracted to build over 1600km of MV/LV lines and to complete 39,000 service connections in very rural areas incorporating some of the most remote areas in Kenya. Several areas faced significant security issues requiring armed security details to protect the workers.

Work commenced in 2019, with the establishment of a large office and warehouse facility in Mlolongo, which housed a BES staff of over 40, predominantly made up of project engineers and support staff. The warehouse acted as a staging post for all the project materials, both imported and locally sourced, prior to distribution to sites. BES also worked with about 40 local contracting firms to ensure a smooth and efficient contruction phase for the project.

The project experienced significant challenges with the onset of Covid and the resulting restrictions of movement both internationally and locally. Exemptions were issued by the GoK for workers on the project - deemed to be high priorty by the Government.

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The project was challenging both in the vast geographical coverage and the bureacratic process required in capturing the client locations and details for the 39000 connections. This information should have been presented by KPLC prior to project commencement, but in reality no data collection had been done so it became incumbent upon BES to carry out this exercise . This involved considerable interaction with local people to educate them on the reasons for the project, the benefits it would bestow on them, and the registration of those details with KPLC to release prepaid meter numbers for installation on the network.

The project also faced considerable challenges with the distribution of materials to site, which required the procurement by BES of a large number of project vehicles of all sizes to complete the deliveries.

Despite the above, BES succesfully completed all contracted works, including retention works, and the project was commissioned in all contracted areas.

Upgrade of 4 x 161/33/11kv substations, construction of 1 x new 33/11kv substation and construction of 33kv Transmission Line / Freetown - Sierra Leone

The Ministry of Energy in Sierra Leone was given World Bank funds for the Upgrade of their distribution network in the capital, Freetown. An International competitive bidding process was undertaken, and BES (Europe) Ltd was awarded the contract.

The project commenced in July 2015 . BES faced a variety of challenges, caused primarily by densely populated settlements which encroached onto the wayleaves along the entire overhead line route. In addition we faced hard, rocky ground which was exceptionally difficult to excavate for tower foundations. This, together with the poor transport infrastructure in Freetown, presented us with many design limitations and operational challenges which we had to overcome.

Unfortunately this period also coincided with the outbreak of the ebola epidemic which resulted in many deaths in Sierra Leone and across neighbouring countries. BES continued works throughout the crisis, despite interruptions to international travel and limited transport routes into the country. The contract period also coincided with one of the country's highest annual rainfalls in memory, which culminated in a catastrophic landslide in Freetown which killed many hundreds of people. Despite these challenges, BES completed all works in mid 2017, and Freetown is enjoying the benefits of a much improved distribution network.

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Prepaid Metering System / Freetown - Sierra Leone

Installation of Revenue Management System, Supply of 25,000 Single Phase and Three Phase Meters and Installation of New Prepaid Vending System.

Background

The National Power Authority (NPA) of Sierra Leone (now renamed EDSA) was suffering from low revenue collection rates from its customers and early attempts at initiating a prepaid metering and revenue management system were proving unreliable.

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Products and services supplied

BES was awarded a total of three contracts by NPA, the first to supply and install a new Revenue Management System (RMS), the second to supply 25,000 single phase and three phase prepaid meters, and the third to supply and install a new prepaid vending system.

Results

Supply and Installation of three sets of components was successfully completed on time and within budget, and has resulted in significant improvements to the total revenues collected by the Authority. There has been a considerable demand for the prepaid meters from the public, and very high approval rating for the ease and efficiency of the vending process.

As a result of this initial success, contracts for further roll-out of prepaid meters and additions to the capacity of the RMS have been awarded to BES. BES continues to provide training and support through service level agreements.

Prestea - Bogoso 161kV Transmission Upgrade Project / Ghana

Design, Supply, Installation and Commissioning of a 161kV Transmission Line and Substation.

Background

To improve power evacuation from the western to the northern part of Ghana, the existing Prestea Bogoso 161kV transmission line was to be decommissioned and replaced by a new 161kV double circuit, twin-bundle conductor transmission line and the 161/34.5kV outdoor substation at Bogoso was to be upgraded. The contract was put out to international competitive tendering and BES was awarded the contract as the best evaluated bidder.

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Products and services supplied

Transmission Line:

The works included the decommissioning of the existing 161kV power line, the complete design of the new line, demolition of the old line, construction of new foundations, erection of towers, installation of fittings, stringing of conductor and OPGW shield wire and their termination at the Prestea and Bogoso Substations.

Substation:

The 34.5kV obsolete indoor switchgear was decommissioned and replaced with a new 34.5kV metal clad air insulated switchgear; two sets of three-phase 161kV pantograph disconnector switches were decommissioned and replaced by new ones and an emergency 50kVA diesel generator set was supplied and installed. BES also designed, supplied and installed a new mosaic MIMIC control and metering panel board and an annunciator panel to control the entire 161/34.5kV substation. All the installed equipment was commissioned by BES.

The work required careful planning as there were strict limits to power outages due to the fact that the existing line and substations were the main supply to large gold mines in the area. To that effect the supply was re-routed through the temporary construction of a loop-in loop-out solution for the transmission line and of a by-pass for the substation.

BES arranged the finance for the project through its UK bankers with support from the Export Credit Agency of the UK Government.

Results

The project was completed on time and within budget and the power outages were kept to a minimum as the customer required.

Geothermal Power Supply / Kenya

Supply of Drilling Materials for Geothermal Power Station – Olkaria 2 Steamfield, Kenya.

Background

The customer was seeking to increase its power generation output by utilising the natural steam deposits in the Great Rift Valley. The Olkaria Power Station, situated in the Hell’s Gate National Park, is being extended to cater for this increase in output.

Originally built in 1981 and 1985, Olkaria 1 had a production capacity of 70MW, but was only producing 45MW. Olkaria 2 had a capacity of 98MW, but was only producing 70MW. Studies showed that there was sufficient capacity in the reserves to supply 150MW for up to 30 years.

The World Bank committed funds to source the expansion of this geothermal energy project.

The customer went to public tender to source the materials required for the drilling programme. BES Group won a substantial part of this supply contract.

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Geothermal Power Supply

Products & services supplied

Materials successfully delivered included Rock Bits, Drill Pipe, Drilling Mud, Cement Additives and Lubricants, Master Valves, and a wide variety of equipment and spare parts required in the drilling process.

All products supplied were sourced from BES Group's worldwide supply network of market leaders, and given full warranty.

Geothermal Power Supply

Results

BES Group were able to supply exceptionally well-priced products, from reputable manufacturers, within very tight delivery schedules. We coordinated all of the ordering, packing, delivery to port, and shipping, as well as the liaison between inspection agencies, manufacturers and shipping lines. We also conducted numerous factory visits throughout production, to check the quality of the goods prior to despatch.

As a result of our efforts, all materials were delivered seamlessly to the customer, in perfect order and within the desired timeframe.